Chart documentation by general physicians of the glaucoma medications taken by their patients.

Abstract

To estimate the frequency of documentation of glaucoma medications by primary care physicians. Cross-sectional, observational study. The general medical records of 100 patients of one glaucoma specialist were reviewed. We recorded whether the mention of eyedrops appeared in the medical record. The median number of glaucoma medications used was 2.5 (range 1 to 5). Fifty-five (55%, 95% confidence interval: 45%-65%) of the medical records of the primary physicians mentioned eyedrops. Alpha-agonists were statistically less frequently documented (13%) in the general medical record than beta-adrenergic blockers (47%) and prostaglandins (44%). Almost half of the charts of these primary physicians had no documentation of any eyedrop use by their patients with glaucoma. An important step in reducing drug-induced side effects and interactions with other medications would be better recognition by primary physicians of the ophthalmic drugs used by their patients.