Subjective symptoms of glaucoma patients treated with topical medication.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between the frequency of ocular symptoms and laboratory values in glaucoma patients undergoing ophthalmic topical medication. Methods: A multivariate analysis was conducted to examine the association between major ocular symptoms (eye strain, blurred vision, photophobia, dryness, discomfort, and pain) and laboratory findings related to glaucoma and dry eye in 1,000 patients (mean age 67.5 years, 493 males) undergoing antiglaucoma eyedrops. The frequency of ocular symptoms during the same period and for the same age group was also obtained. Results: 37.3% of the glaucoma group had any of the major ocular symptoms, and the percentages of patients with ocular symptoms were eye strain in 22.9%, blurred vision in 23.0%, photophobia in 13.1%, dryness in 17.9%, discomfort in 14.8%, and pain in 6.3%. These frequencies were less frequent than in all 1,804 patients aged 60-69 years (mean 64.9 years) seen in the same period. Test values were associated with symptoms: mean deviation (MD) values for visual field were associated with eye strain (β = 0.073, p = 0.034), photophobia (β = -0.0720, p = 0.036), and pain (β = -0.074, p = 0.033) and macular ganglion cell layer thickness was weakly associated with pain (β = -0.0872, p = 0.0342). Conclusion: The subjective symptoms of glaucoma patients are weakly and infrequently associated with test values, suggesting that topical medication is safely administered. Concurrently, adherence to periodic examinations and topical medication is a concern, so it is important to explain the condition and treatment carefully to increase adherence, even if subjective symptoms are poor.