Effect of Proview self‐tonometry on pharmaceutical compliance

Abstract

Aim:  To evaluate changes in patient compliance with medical treatment while using the Proview Eye Pressure Monitor.

Methods:  A crossover study design was used to compare the compliance of patients with established use of topical medication to lower intraocular pressure in the treatment of primary open‐angle glaucoma. Thirty‐two patients currently managed with latanoprost 0.005%, brimonidine 0.15%, travoprost 0.004% or bimatoprost 0.03% as monotherapy or in combination were randomly assigned to two study groups. Group 1 was instructed in the use of Proview Eye Pressure Monitor three times daily for 30 days as an adjunct to the glaucoma regimen. Group 2 was observed with no change in the patients’ treatment regimen during this phase of study. A crossover occurred at 30 days. Compliance was monitored by assigning new bottles of topical medication during each phase of study. Bottles were weighed with a Mettler balance (Mettler Toledo Co.) at the initiation and completion of each phase. The changes in bottle‐weight determined the amount of medication consumed by each patient for each phase of the study. The weights were analysed to estimate changes in compliance.

Results:  A paired samples Student t‐test compared the consumed bottle weights with and without Proview Eye Pressure Monitor usage. No statistical significance or trend was identifiable (p = 0.98). Use of the Proview Eye Pressure Monitor did not significantly change compliance with adjunct eye drop medication.

Conclusion:  The use of the Proview Eye Pressure Monitor use did not improve but appeared to hinder compliance with glaucoma treatment in this study.

Key words:

• glaucoma
• intraocular pressure
• pharmaceutical compliance
• Proview Phosphene Tonometer
• tonometry

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to thank Dr Lora D Haynes for advice and statistical consultation and Dr Thomas Bryan and Dr Aaron Wilmes for co‐ordination of the study.