Treatment of glaucoma among elderly patients in Sofia

Objective: To analyze therapy of glaucoma among the elderly population, 65 years old and above, in Sofia city, the capital of Bulgaria. Methods: Two prophylactic ophthalmic campaigns were realized in the summer of 2016 and 2017, in Sofia city. All patients passed thorough ophthalmic examinations and filled pen-and-paper questionnaires. The results and files were collected and statistically analyzed to estimate current antiglaucoma therapy among the elderly citizens of Sofia city. Results: The predominant number of persons who were diagnosed with glaucoma, was treated with conservative monotherapy. Prostaglandin analogues have been prescribed to more than half of the patients in both studies. Fixed combinations have been used in 86% of the cases who needed combined therapy with two substances and in 100% of those with three medications. Conclusions: The therapeutic scheme used for treating glaucoma among elderly citizens of Sofia city is similar and corresponding to practice worldwide. Conservative monotherapy is used in mean 45%. When combined therapy is necessary, fixed combinations are predominantly prescribed with a target to minimize adverse events and to ensure better patients’ compliance. A tendency of usage of preservative-free formulas to benefit patients’ eye health has been noticed. Abbreviations: POSE = prophylactic ophthalmic screening among elderly people, GSW = glaucoma screening week, EGS = European Glaucoma Society, PEX= pseudoexfoliative syndrome, PGAs = Prostaglandin analogues, CAIs = Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors