Glaucoma and aging: therapeutic difficulties experienced by the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Glaucoma is a public health problem among chronic-degenerative visual diseases due to its high incidence and for causing disability. Thus, the Glaucoma Patient Assistance Program was created to improve follow-up and avoid bleak prognoses. Objectives: to analyze the difficulties of the elderly in the use of eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma. Methods: an exploratory research was carried out where the population was composed of elderly patients with glaucoma treated at the Integrated Unit of Ipiranga linked to Basic Care in District III of João Pessoa-PB, a questionnaire was the instrument for data collection for the 61 participants. Results: it was found that 38 (62.3%) %) of the participants, 53 (87%) received 1-2 minimum wages, and 23 (37.7%) studied only until primary school. As for administration, 37 (60.7%) had no problems remembering if they had already used the eye drops, 39 (63.9%) had no difficulty using it, and 34 (55.7%) were unable to follow its use in the basic assistance. Conclusion: respondents have their obstacles to medication adherence regardless of the disease, the lack of follow-up in basic care only adds another one, so that’s why educating them would enable lower dropout rates and better prognoses.