Abstract
AimTo determine the glaucoma specialists’ preferences for the different brands of topical glaucoma medications available in Mexico.Materials and methodsA web-based survey was sent to 150 board-certified glaucoma specialists in Mexico, with 14 questions related to brand preferences for all glaucoma medications available in Mexico. Participants were asked to select each glaucoma medication class by brand and to state the factors leading to their choice.ResultsData from 111 (74%) glaucoma specialists were collected. Imot (timolol 0.5%; Sophia, Mexico) was the preferred brand for the beta-blockers (BB) class by 71% (n = 79) of the participants. Azopt (brinzolamide 1%; Alcon Lab, US) was the preferred carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) by 54% (n = 60) of the glaucoma specialists. Lumigan (bimatoprost 0.01% and 0.03%; Allergan Inc., U.S.) was the first choice for the prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in 62% (n = 70) of the answers. The most frequently prescribed alpha-agonist (AA) was Agglad (brimonidine 0.2%; Sophia Lab, Mexico) in 44% (n = 49) of the answers. Medication accessibility (31%), cost (29%), and recommended dose (23%) were the three main factors influencing the glaucoma specialists’ preferences.ConclusionMedication cost and accessibility, as well as posology, remain the main factors influencing brand preferences among glaucoma doctors. In our professional opinion, the therapeutic effect must be the leading factor when prescribing topical medications in the daily practice, so that patients receive the best treatment option.Clinical significanceThis survey provides an understanding of the decision-making process when prescribing glaucoma medications by glaucoma specialists in a Latin American developing country. Ideally, patient treatment should be individualized and aimed to achieve the best results possible for their specific condition.How to cite this article: Lazcano-Gomez G, Alvarez-Ascencio D, Haro-Zuno C, Turati-Acosta M, Garcia-Huerta M, Jimenez-Arroyo J, Castañeda-Diez R, Castillejos-Chevez A, Gonzalez-Salinas R, Dominguez-Dueñas F, Jimenez-Roman J. Glaucoma Medication Preferences among Glaucoma Specialists in Mexico. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(3):97-100.
Highlights
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.[1]
Clinical significance: This survey provides an understanding of the decision-making process when prescribing glaucoma medications by glaucoma specialists in a Latin American developing country
This study aims to determine the preferences of glaucoma specialists for the different brands Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice, September-December 2017;11(3):[97-100]
Summary
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.[1] It is a chronic and progressive disease, which to this day has only one modifiable risk factor, lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP). This has been shown to slow or halt the progression of the optic nerve (ON) degeneration.[2] Even though a number of treatment options (lasers and novel surgical techniques) have been developed, topical medications remain the first-line therapy for glaucoma in the majority of cases.[3,4]. The pharmaceutical market provides physicians with a broad spectrum of brands for each class of glaucoma medications. Even though the therapeutic effect should be the main reason when prescribing specific brands,[5,6] physicians’ preferences for certain brands are determined by the drug availability, cost, patient’s preference, and insurance coverage, and in some cases are influenced by the exposure to the pharmaceutical companies.[7]
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