Abstract
Chronic diseases are invariably associated with decreased functioning ability of the individual in one form or the other depending upon the system/organ involved. Disability consequent to the disease is the major factor affecting the patient’s physical and psychosocial well-being; in other words, the ‘Quality of Life (QOL)’. Besides the disease itself, the treatment and its consequences are also major determinants of QOL of the patients. Globally, glaucoma, which is emerging as one of the leading causes of blindness, is one such chronic ophthalmic disease characterized by a progressive loss of visual function and a potential to cause irreversible blindness, if not treated at an early stage. Patients of glaucoma need to take lifelong medications in order to keep their intraocular pressure within limits. It’s impact on the daily life of patients cannot be overexpressed and compounded by the fact that it remains asymptomatic for a considerable time after the disease has set in; has led to new imperatives in diagnosis, treatment and epidemiological and outcome studies. Assessment of the debilitating effect of glaucoma and side effects of its treatment on the emotional and physical QOL of the patient is therefore an important criterion for arriving at the treatment regimen. An extensive literature search was done on Pubmed Central, Pubmed and Google Scholar using the keywords ‘glaucoma’, ‘quality of life in glaucoma’, ‘management in POAG’ and ‘QOL assessment tools’. Various tools available for the assessment of QOL, and their advantages and limitations have been reviewed in this article.
Highlights
REVIEW ARTICLEJunior Resident (2nd year), Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India
WHO defines quality of life (QOL) as ‘patients’ perspective of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns’.1 This definition focuses upon the respondents’ ‘perceived’ quality of life and, measures the effects of both, the disease and health interventions, on the patients’ quality of life.Disease MagnitudeGlaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, with an estimated 12 million patients in India,[2] and over 60 million people affected by it worldwide.[3]
The results showed that with the addition of a second medication, there was a statistically and clinically significant increase in the refill interval which in turn may affect intraocular pressure control due to the medication-free periods between refills.[20]
Summary
Junior Resident (2nd year), Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. Correspondence: Divjyot Kaur, Junior Resident (2nd year), Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Patiala
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
