Original article / research
A Cross-sectional Study of Antiglaucoma Drug Utilisation and Prescribing Patterns in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
FC06-FC11
Correspondence
Swati Jangir,
Transport Nagar, Udaipur-313001, Rajasthan, India.
E-mail: jangirswati7@gmail.com
Introduction: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide and requires long-term pharmacological management. Drug utilisation studies help evaluate prescribing patterns, rational drug use, treatment adherence, and cost-related factors in glaucoma management.
Aim: To evaluate the utilisation pattern of antiglaucoma medications and prescribing trends in a tertiary care hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ophthalmology Outpatient Department (OPD) at American International Institute of Medical Sciences, a Tertiary Care Institution, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, from December 2024 to December 2025. A total of 127 patients diagnosed with glaucoma were included in the study. Data regarding demographic characteristics, clinical profile, prescribed medications, treatment patterns, dosing frequency, duration of therapy, and generic versus branded prescribing were collected using patient interviews and prescription records. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Topical therapy was prescribed in all patients. Monotherapy was the most common treatment pattern (38.6%), followed by polytherapy (31.5%) and Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) (29.9%). Prostaglandin analogues were the most frequently prescribed drug class. Generic medications accounted for 55.9% of prescriptions. No statistically significant association was observed between income level and type of drug prescribed (χ2=3.46, p=0.326).
Conclusion: The prescribing pattern of antiglaucoma medications in the present study demonstrated predominant use of prostaglandin analogues, monotherapy, FDCs, and generic medications within the study setting. Use of prostaglandin analogues, generic medications, and simplified treatment regimens may contribute to effective and cost-conscious glaucoma management.