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Physicians need to ensure that glaucoma patients are receiving proper care
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Contrary to some classical opinion that suggested medical care is recession proof, the current economy is definitely affecting the typical American’s decision-making process when it comes to medical care.
 Richard L. Lindstrom |
That elective procedures such as LASIK are falling in volume as this recession evolves and that the consumer confidence index is swooning are to be expected. Now, there is growing evidence that elderly patients are also delaying cataract surgery, presumably to avoid the Medicare co-pay. In addition, the adoption curve of premium IOLs is stalling as the financial headwinds escalate. Fear is rampant, and a hunker-down mentality prevails.
Fortunately, a patient delaying LASIK or cataract surgery a year or two is not a threat to public health, but evidence that some are choosing voluntarily to discontinue their glaucoma medications is cause for concern. We ophthalmologists need to be on the lookout for patients who are unable or unwilling to pay the costs of proper medical care when confronted with a sight-threatening disease such as glaucoma.
While awkward, we need to be ready to inquire as to the cause when compliance appears to suddenly decline in a once-reliable patient. If the problem is economic, we can usually help. In select cases, less expensive medications or surgical alternatives may suffice. For some, we need to be ready to help patients through this difficult time by providing care and medication at reduced or no cost.
Tough times never last and our economy will recover, but permanent field loss caused by neglected glaucoma therapy will not. It is imperative that we do what we can to see that our patients do not suffer permanent visual loss over the cost of a bottle of glaucoma medication.