Effectiveness of Structured Follow-up Interventions on Glaucoma Awareness and Therapeutic Compliance

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive optic neuropathy and remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Effective disease control depends largely on long-term adherence to medication and regular follow-up. However, inadequate awareness and poor compliance continue to compromise treatment outcomes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of structured follow-up interventions in improving glaucoma knowledge and therapeutic adherence among newly diagnosed patients. Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted over six months at a tertiary eye care centre in Noida, India. 68 patients aged above 35 years with newly diagnosed glaucoma were enrolled and divided into intervention and control groups. Baseline knowledge was assessed using a validated 14-item glaucoma knowledge questionnaire, while adherence was evaluated using the Morisky Green Levine (MGL) scale. The intervention group received structured follow-up sessions including personalised counselling, intraocular pressure (IOP) charting, educational materials, and reinforcement of drop instillation techniques. Pre- and post-intervention scores were analysed using paired t-tests. Results: The intervention group demonstrated significant improvement in mean knowledge scores (3.81 ± 2.65 to 8.71 ± 1.49; p = 0.00000000000000576) and adherence scores (1.10 ± 0.98 to 0.10 ± 0.30; p = 0.000000734). Both study objectives showed statistically significant enhancement following structured follow-up. Conclusion: Structured follow-up interventions significantly improved glaucoma awareness and medication adherence. Integrating personalised education and reinforcement into routine glaucoma management may enhance long-term therapeutic compliance and reduce the risk of disease progression.