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A novel EyePhone© App for improving adherence to glaucoma therapy

  • Glaucoma
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Despite advances in glaucoma treatment options, patient adherence and compliance remain very low. The EyePhone© App is a free non-commercial reminder application designed specifically for the needs of glaucoma patients. In this study, we evaluated its usefulness in improving adherence to medical treatment among glaucoma patients.

Methods

This is a prospective multicenter interventional study. Glaucoma patients were recruited from a tertiary center and a large community glaucoma service center. After a short explanation, the EyePhone© App was installed on their smartphone device, and the notifications for the current medical treatment were entered. After enrollment and at 1-month follow-up, subjects completed the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and the Quality of Life and Glaucoma 17-item (GlauQOL-17) questionnaires for evaluation of adherence and QOL, respectively.

Results

In the study, 133 patients (71 men and 62 women) aged 62±15.5 years and using 2.0±0.9 IOP-lowering drugs participated. The proportion of highly adherent subjects improved from 29.3% (39/133) at baseline to 42.1% (56/133) at follow-up (P < 0.001), and the proportion of poorly adherent subjects decreased from 29.3 (39/133) to 20.3% (27/133) at follow-up (P = 0.012). QOL also improved, as evidenced by a significant increase in the GlauQOL-17 score (P < 0.05). In a subgroup of patients for whom IOP measurements were available, IOP reduced by 0.92 mmHg (P = 0.069).

Conclusions

Significant improvements in glaucoma adherence and QOL were achieved among poorly adherent glaucoma patients after 1 month of using the EyePhone© App.

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Data availability

Upon request.

Code availability

The EyePhone® App is available for download without charge from the Google Play app store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glaoucmaskaatleshno.drugreminder2

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Ari Leshno, Reut Singer, Ofri Vorobichik-Berar, Shiran Madgar, Ori Stern, Wasim Jaber, Noa Kapelushnik & Alon Skaat

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ari Leshno, Dan Gaton, Reut Singer, Elior Eliasi, Ori Stern, Wasim Jaber, Noa Kapelushnik & Alon Skaat

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel

    Dan Gaton

  4. Glaucoma Institute, “Clalit” Healthcare Services, Century Tower, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Dan Gaton

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  1. Ari Leshno
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  2. Dan Gaton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ari Leshno.

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Ethics approval

The study was approved by both the Sheba Medical Center and the “Clalit” healthcare services institutional review boards.

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All participants signed an informed consent form

Conflict of interest

Two of the authors (AL and AS) developed the EyePhone® App. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Leshno, A., Gaton, D., Singer, R. et al. A novel EyePhone© App for improving adherence to glaucoma therapy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 259, 1253–1262 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-021-05091-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-021-05091-6

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