Aiding Adherence to Glaucoma Medications: A Systematic Review.

Purpose To provide a comprehensive assessment of the strategies studied to date that focus on improving glaucoma medication adherence. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), and Scopus (Elsevier) from inception to March 1, 2021, of publications describing a device or strategy used to improve glaucoma medication adherence. Results 42 studies described by 50 papers were included. Five categories were identified: reminder systems, medication simplifications, behavioral change programs, education, and alternative engagement strategies. Conclusion Most studies (40 of the 42) addressed the question of improved adherence directly, with 26 finding improved adherence. Notably, 14 examined the clinical effects of the intervention, either in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) or visual fields. Only three found an improvement in IOP. None demonstrated a between group difference in visual field progression.