The treatment compliance with glaucoma medication is poor.
A literature search in the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and Cochrane and reference lists was conducted. Thirty-four articles describing 29 original quantitative studies, in English, German, French, or Dutch, were included. Studies on noncompliance in drug trials were excluded.
The proportions of patients who deviate from their prescribed medication regimen ranged from 5% to 80%. The impact of noncompliance on clinical outcome has not yet been established. There are no determinants sensitive and specific enough to identify potential noncompliers accurately.