Publication:

Study of prescription pattern of antiglaucoma drugs used in treatment of primary open angle glaucoma in ophthalmology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital

Background In view of the high prevalence rates and the fact that medication is the primary line of treatment in POAG, an understanding of prescribing patterns can provide an insight into rational use of antiglaucoma drugs.

Methods This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the glaucoma clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 12 months. Data from prescriptions of patients with POAG was recorded to study the prescribing pattern of antiglaucoma medications, completeness of the prescription and analysis of the prescriber’s influence.

Results Total of 103 prescriptions were included in which all the 141 anti-glaucoma drugs were prescribed as eye drops. Average number of drugs prescribed in present study was 1.36.   β blockers, particularly Timolol (58%) was the most frequently prescribed drug. Timolol with dorzolamide (15%) was the only prescribed fixed dose combination. Prostaglandin analogues (5%) were least commonly prescribed. 53% drugs were prescribed by generic names and 43% were prescribed from hospital formulary. Instructions regarding the route and frequency of drug administration with duration of treatment were present in all prescriptions; however, instructions regarding method of instillation of eye drops were missing. Authors observed prescriber’s influence in present study.

Conclusions Overall prescribing pattern in our set up is satisfactory. There is a need to sensitize the prescribers regarding the importance of writing method of instillation in prescription as this could improve efficacy reduce side effects, prevent drug wastage and reduce cost. To encourage the physicians for rational prescribing such type of studies should be done more often for periodic auditing of prescriptions.