Progression of visual field defects in glaucoma. Relation to compliance with pilocarpine therapy
P. A. Granstrom
In patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, compliance with pilocarpine
therapy was studied with an electronic medication monitor. The visual
fields and intraocular pressure (IOP) readings were followed up
retrospectively during two years before and two years after the compliance
measurements. Progression of visual field defects was significantly more
common in patients with capsular glaucoma than in patients with simple
glaucoma. Eyes with more extensive visual field defects showed progression
more often than did eyes with smaller defects, and so did eyes with a high
mean IOP as compared with those with a low mean IOP. Visual field defect
progression was not significantly more common among patients with "poor"
than among patients with "good" compliance, which indicates that
noncompliance is less important for the outcome than are the type of
glaucoma, the stage of visual field defects, and the mean IOP.
