Growing older surrounded by elderly neighbours provides an interesting insight into the everyday practicalities of ageing and health.
Last week’s announcement of research showing that selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) treatment for glaucoma was more effective, and cheaper, than eye drops will be welcomed by clinicians. Given the potential to reduce the one million outpatient appointments attended for glaucoma and with savings to the NHS of £1.5m, it will be welcomed by hospitals too.
One group that will greet the latest findings and the hoped for change in clinical practice most heartily is the 600,000 glaucoma sufferers who face the prospect of daily drops.
It’s all too easy to assume patients diagnosed with glaucoma, and achieving stable pressures while on drops have arrived at a final and successful outcome, for many that’s not the case.
In a timely piece on the complications of eye drops (01.03.19) Optician outlined the problems patients encounter. Add to this physical and mental disability, forgetfulness and the issues become much bigger.
For some, over a lifetime, the cost of prescriptions and hospital visits will be massive . While for others, particularly the elderly, being tied to instilling drops is just another, increasingly tricky and unpleasant chore of everyday life.
When called on to help elderly people in my community with difficulties alongside the usual problems with TVs, remotes and telephones, the most common issues relate to tiny bottles of medication, often eye drops.
Everything from reading the labels and instructions, a particular favourite of older ladies, to simply breaking the seal to open the bottle and instilling the drops, is an issue.
The issue of SLT certainly seems a win-win, saving money, more effective, freeing up clinicians. Hats off to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for suggesting a change to practice and hopefully an end to drops for life attitude to glaucoma sufferers.