We ve had a Glaucoma 2001 booth at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians each year since 1992, and hand out laminated optic nerve and risk factor analysis scorecards by the hundreds. We try to inform attendees about the need to screen for glaucoma, and how to do it. We emphasize that such screening is easy and quick, and can be done without dilation. If a physician is not thinking glaucoma, even such a high-risk patient won t be referred to an ophthalmologist. Another aspect of glaucoma that should be emphasized is the side effects of the drugs used to treat it.
All eye drops are, indeed, systemic medications.
They enter the bloodstream through the nasal mucosa as rapidly as if they were injected intravenously. But, regrettably, drops are not considered drugs by many patients, and even by many physicians. An awareness of glaucoma, its risk factors, and the dangers inherent in its medical treatment, is needed by all primary care physicians. Your excellent article will help to spread the word. Thank you very much.