A comparison of patient compliance in treated vs untreated ocular hypertension.

Eighty-nine patients with newly diagnosed asymptomatic elevations of intraocular pressure were followed up over a 12- to 20-month interval. During this period 33 (37%) of the patients were lost to ophthalmic follow-up evaluation. The majority of these patients dropped out within one month following the initial diagnosis. While institution of medical therapy for the elevated ocular pressure improved patient compliance when compared to the nontreated group, the rates of noncompliance in both groups were unacceptably high in view of the disease risk. Management of the noncompliant patient requires good physician-patient communication, emphasis on patient education activities, and the use of selective reminder and recall systems within the ophthalmologist's office.