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Prostaglandin monotherapy ideal for some glaucoma patients, physician says
NEW YORK — Prostaglandin monotherapy is beneficial as a form of rational medical therapy for many glaucoma patients, according to a speaker here at the East Coast Glaucoma Symposium.
 Robert D. Fechtner |
Robert D. Fechtner, MD, defined rational medical therapy as a therapy that strikes the proper balance, on a patient-by-patient basis, of IOP-lowering capability, frequency and cost.
To address the issue of drug noncompliance by glaucoma patients, Dr. Fechtner suggested prescribing only a prostaglandin in selected patients, even if it means veering away from clinical trial results.
"Clinical trial data doesn't match the real world, and clinical trial subjects are different from patients. So we have to get to a practical answer. Complex dosing regimens are a barrier to adherence," he said.
Those barriers, according to Dr. Fechtner, include social or environmental obstacles, such as being away from home; regimen-related issues, such as forgetting to pick up a refill; patient-related obstacles, such as poor motor skills or declining memory; and medical provider-related problems, such as lack of education concerning therapy.