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

PURPOSE: To estimate the frequency of documentation of glaucoma medications by primary care physicians. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. α-Agonists were statistically less frequently documented (13%) in the general medical record than β-adrenergic blockers (47%) and prostaglandins (44%). CONCLUSION: 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.