No abstract

No abstract

Purpose To ascertain the presence of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) in patients being treated for glaucoma, using subjective and objective methods and to examine DES impact on their quality of life (QOL). Method A cross-sectional study was conducted by employing 156 glaucoma patients recruited from treatment centers in the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana. All the participants underwent dry eye examination and completed the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), the Dry Eye-related Quality of Life Score (DEQS) and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Comparisons of the clinical tests, NEI VFQ-25 subscale item and composite scores and scores of DEQS and OSDI were made among subgroups divided according to the presence of dry eye symptoms or signs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors that influence DES related-QOL among the patients. Results The study involved 156 subjects with a mean age of 47.88 ± 16.0 years and made up of 81 (51.9%) females and 75 (48.1%) males. A One-Way ANOVA was conducted, and the F-statistic (F) indicated that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of the groups. There were significantly lower Tear break-up time (TBUT) values found in the group with definite dry compared with the group without DES and the group that was symptomatic with no signs DES in both eyes, [(F(3,151) = 13.703, p<0.001 (RE): (F(3,152) = 18.992, p<0.001 (LE)]. Similar results were found for Schirmer test (ST) [(F (3,151) = 28.895, p<0.001 (RE): (F (3,152) = 17.410, p<0.001 (LE)]. There was statistically significant difference in the mean composite score (64.93 ± 20.27) for the NEI VFQ-25 and sub-scale score of ocular pain, which was significantly lower in the group with definite dry as compared to other sub-groups (F(3,152) = 4.559, p = 0.004). OSDI scores of the group with definite dry eye (47.69–19.17) and the group that was symptomatic but with no signs (38.90–22.44) were significantly higher than those without dry eye and those that were asymptomatic but had a sign (F(3,152) = 17.896, p<0.001), with a similar trend occurring in the groups with relation to DEQS scores (F(3,152) = 8.775, p<0.001). There was a strong correlation between the DEQS and the OSDI questionnaires, and a weak correlation between the DEQS and the NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire after adjusting for all other factors (all p < 0.01). Conclusion The study established a high presence of DES and consequently low DES related-QOL in glaucoma patients. Dry eye questionnaires are able to discriminate those who have definite dry eye from the other groups, showing its appropriateness for clinical use in glaucoma patients. Ocular surface evaluation should be conducted among glaucoma patients on topical anti-glaucoma therapy to ensure the timely detection and treatment of signs and symptoms of DES and improvement of dry-eye related QOL.

Purpose: There is poor adherence to medication among patients with glaucoma especially in people of African ancestry. The present study assessed the influence of personality traits on adherence to glaucoma medication among patients living with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) from an African population. Methods: A clinic-based cross sectional study was conducted among patients with POAG attending a specialist eye care facility. Adapted and validated personality trait and medication adherence measures questionnaires were used.Results: Self-reported adherence to glaucoma medication was 60.8% but the overall mean adherence score was 18.58±3.40, indicating slight non-adherence. The personality traits conscientiousness and agreeableness significantly predicted medication adherence but accounted for only 30.3% and 13.3% of the variance respectively. Non-adherence to medication was significantly predicted by the personality profiles neuroticism, extraversion and openness which respectively accounted for 61.7%, 20.3% and 13.3% of the variance in the personality trait assessment. Old age and longer use of glaucoma medications were also significantly associated with non-adherence to glaucoma medication.Conclusions: Glaucoma patients’ personality profiles significantly predicted their adherence to glaucoma medications. Assessment of the personality profiles and appropriate psychotherapeutic approaches should be included in glaucoma diagnosis and management protocols in order to enhance medication adherence in patients living with glaucoma.