Simple Drops’ preservative-free option

The “Therapeutic Focus” column presents an optometrist’s firsthand experiences with a new therapy.

I agree, managing glaucoma patients and their prescription medications can be frustrating in many ways. Compliance, Compound and Cost are the “Three Cs” that will either create the desired outcomes or cause havoc for our patients.

Our practice philosophy is to take the best care of glaucoma patients by keeping things simple. Prescribing glaucoma drops that will deliver safe, consistent results at an affordable cost, complimented with strong patient education is a winning combination. Recently we adopted Imprimis Pharmaceuticals Simple Drops, which allow us to provide our glaucoma patients a preservative-free, dose-dependable formulation that often can be a more affordable option than generic medications.

Long term use of preservatives in eye drop formulations can be linked to compliance in therapy or ocular surface problems. Simple Drops combat this issue via its PureFlow bottle design, and gives me peace of mind by avoiding preservative-induced irritation.

PROCEDURE

When a glaucoma patient is in my exam chair, the first conversation turns to the danger of glaucoma blindness and progression. I stress my solution offering my Three Cs philosophy. This leads me to my recommendation of Imprimis Pharmaceutical’s line of compounded glaucoma formulations.

Depending on the target IOP desired, I will typically prescribe the Lat (latanoprost) drop formulation administered at bedtime or Tim-Lat (timolol and latanoprost).

PATIENT EDUCATION

Education and guidance in our glaucoma patients is critical. The more knowledgeable they are on their condition, the more compliant they will be with their therapy resulting in a trusted, comfortable experience with our services. Creating a glaucoma educational atmosphere in our office was not difficult, but involved everyone from technicians to receptionists, all being able to answer basic questions about glaucoma, glaucoma testing, diagnosis and treatment options.

A monthly, in-office educational glaucoma patient support group encourages disease state awareness, office follow-up schedules, patient compliance and instructs in proper drop instillation and usage. Printed materials help explain what glaucoma is, risk of blindness, importance of compliance with tests and medications and covers the frequency of office visits and testing sequence. Patients have welcomed the simplicity of therapy and the educational message creates a caring, positive perception of our office to the glaucoma patients being managed.

THREE Cs

So go ahead and tackle the “Three Cs” in your office. Manage your glaucoma patients without added concerns like preservative toxicity. OM

DR. GONZALEZ is staff at Eye and Vision in Richardson Texas, he is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, Optometric Glaucoma Society and regularly speaks and lectures on Medical Optometry topics. Dr. Gonzalez has no stocks or financial relationship with Imprimis.