Quality of Life in Glaucoma: A Review of the Literature

The ultimate goal of glaucoma management is
the preservation of patients’ visual function and
quality of life (QoL). The disease itself as well as
the medical or surgical treatment can have an
enormous impact on a patient’s QoL. Even the
mere diagnosis of a chronic, irreversible,
potentially blinding disorder can adversely
affect the patient’s sense of well-being and
QoL by eliciting significant anxiety. Patients
with primary open-angle glaucoma rarely
present with visual symptoms, at least early in
the course of the disease. A better
understanding of patient-reported QoL can
improve patient–physician interaction and
enhance treatment adherence by customizing
treatment options based on individual patient
profile, thus optimizing long-term prognosis.
These aspects are summarized and critically
appraised in this article