Adherence, compliance, persistence and concordance in the management of glaucoma, Part II

Adherence was noted in Part I of this series as a concept laden with difficulties in relation to the management of glaucoma. A significant issue associated with a lack of adherence is the patient’s failure to recognize there is a need to administer their eye drops as prescribed. Part I identified that the greatest issue is that patients experience no pain with their debilitating eye disease. It is not until there is considerable loss of vision that awareness of the need to administer eye drops becomes a reality. It was further noted that understanding the complexities of adherence and its association with persistence, compliance and concordance can assist the healthcare practitioner in developing models of care that help the patient in self management of their glaucoma. This article addresses the theory of adherence and self management of chronic open angle glaucoma and discusses perspectives, theories and models that help the patient in self management of their glaucoma