One OF the challenges we have as clinicians who treat patients with glaucoma is to encourage the use of antiglaucoma medications on a long-term basis. It is difficult enough to remember to take medications daily. Noncompliance among our patients remains an ongoing issue. The adverse effects that are associated with many of these antiglaucoma medications can be intolerable for a large segment of the affected population and do not endear our patients to continue their therapy. Ocular burning, irritation, headaches, blurred vision, and wheezing are a few of the symptoms that may be noted on periodic visits. Consider also the changes that can occur in pulse rate and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the interaction with systemic medications that the patient may already be using on a daily basis.
It is no wonder that the Moorfield1 study found that in patients with glaucoma, surgery was more effective