A novel eye drop application monitor to assess patient compliance with a prescribed regimen: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the ability of a novel imaging device to allow physicians to personalize therapeutic regimens based on objective patient drop administration data.

Methods: A novel imaging system was used to record video of the drop technique of subjects in clinic (n=25) or at home (n=17) for 1 week. Video assessment by a reading center was compared with patient reporting and their prescribed regimen with respect to how many drops were applied and how many landed in the eye.

Results: Reading center assessment of both drops dispensed and drops landing in the eye was significantly different from the prescribed regimen in the clinic (Pd=0.005, Pi<0.001, respectively) and at-home arms (Pd=0.003, Pi<0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: This imaging system is a powerful tool to help physicians tailor patient therapy more accurately, to help researchers evaluate new drop therapies with objective rather than subjective data, and to potentially facilitate better patient training for improved drug delivery.

Figures

Figure 1

The Eye Drop Administration Monitor (EDAM). Shows actual images of (a) the EDAM alone and with the lights off, (b) attached to a drop bottle with lights on, and (c) connected to the monitor/recording device.

Figure 2

In-clinic comparison of the number of Drops dispensed and how many landed in the eye. (a) Shows the log book comparison between the actual number of drops dispensed for each subject during the in-clinic phase and the average number of drops dispensed. Bars denote SD, **P<0.005 (n=25, Student's paired t-test). (b) Shows the log book comparison between the actual number of drops that landed in the eye for each subject during the in-clinic phase and the average number of drops that landed in the eye. Bars denote standard deviation; ***P<0.001 (n=25, Student's paired t-test).

Figure 3

At-home comparison of drops dispensed and drops that landed in the eye. (a) Shows the log book comparison between the actual number of drops that landed in the eye for each subject during the at-home phase and the average number of drops that landed in the eye. Bars denote SEM; ***P<0.001 (n=17, Student's paired t-test). (b) Shows the ratios between the subject or reading center and the prescribed regimen for each subject, and shows the average of these ratios. Bars denote SEM.

Figure 4

Percentage of patients who properly dispensed their eye drops. Bar graph shows what percent of in-clinic and at-home subjects could properly dispense their eye drops, what percent used more than one drop, and what percent contacted/contaminated the eye drop bottle tip.