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ODs prescribe more IOP-lowering medication than MDs in isolated towns
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Latanoprost was identified as the most common medication prescribed by ophthalmologists and optometrists in a review of nationwide Medicare Part D claims of ocular hypotensive medications.
Ophthalmologists’ second, third and fourth most frequently prescribed medications were timolol, bimatoprost and brimonidine, respectively.
Optometrists’ second, third and fourth most frequently prescribed medications were bimatoprost, brimonidine and dorzolamide, respectively.
The rates of claims for prescriptions from ophthalmologists were higher nationally than from optometrists by a 6:1 ratio, according to researchers.
Claims rates in urban, large and small rural cities were significantly greater for ophthalmologists, but greater for optometrists in isolated small rural towns.
Additionally, researchers found that ophthalmologists used a significantly wider range of medications, derived from more medication classes, and treated more patients than optometrists.
“The geographic difference in prescribing patterns between ophthalmologists and optometrists is likely influenced to some degree by the variability in state laws,” researchers wrote. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosures: Janetos reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for all remaining authors’ financial disclosures.
Perspective
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Carl H. Jacobsen, OD, FAAO
News flash! There are differences between optometrists and ophthalmologists. Our training is different, our scopes of practice are different, our patient populations are different, and our tools for solving patient problems are different.
Yet in many areas our professions overlap. Glaucoma management is one such area. It’s no surprise that Janetos and colleagues in their cross-sectional, observational study found inter-professional differences in medical glaucoma management.
What does this mean? I have no idea. One could propose many and varied theories to explain these results. A more interesting question is: Which profession is more effective at managing glaucoma? Of course, I can’t answer this question, but I can tell you that optometrists should be superior glaucoma managers. For example, most consider the biggest hurdle to effective glaucoma management patient adherence to their treatment plan, and a key to good adherence is building patient understanding of their condition. Unlike our ophthalmologic colleagues, most optometrists don’t see 60 patients a day. Our relatively light patient load allows considerably more one-on-one time between doctor and patient, which should lead, ultimately, to better patient education and adherence. We do things differently, no surprise, so let’s try our level best to do it better for the sake of our beloved patients.
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