Glaucoma Medication Costs Rise: Trends and Patient Impact
Author: JAMA and Archives Journals
Published: 2011/06/16 - Updated: 2026/02/13
Publication Type: Reports & Proceedings
Category Topic: Glaucoma - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This research from the peer-reviewed Archives of Ophthalmology provides critical data on glaucoma medication expenditure trends affecting millions of Americans at risk for vision loss. Published by researchers from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and supported by the National Eye Institute, the study analyzed Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 1,404 patients over six years, revealing significant cost increases particularly impacting vulnerable populations including women, those with limited education, and publicly insured individuals. The findings prove especially valuable for patients managing this chronic condition, healthcare providers developing treatment protocols, and policymakers addressing the financial burden of eye care as the aging population drives projected increases in glaucoma prevalence. Understanding these medication cost patterns helps patients and families anticipate expenses while informing strategies to balance effective treatment with affordability - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Glaucoma Medication Expenditure Appears to Have Increased
In recent years, spending for glaucoma medications has increased, especially for women, persons who have only public health insurance and those with less than a high school education, according to a report published online by Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Glaucoma is a condition marked by damage to the optic nerve, and is a leading cause of blindness.
Main Content
According to background information in the article, approximately 2.2 million individuals ages 40 years and older in the United States currently have primary open-angle glaucoma; this number is expected to increase by almost 50 percent by 2020. Presently, the direct annual medical costs associated with the condition are roughly $2.9 billion. Although data on glaucoma-expense trends is limited, the authors note that:
"There is a direct correlation between increased expenditure and increased severity of glaucoma, with medication consisting of one-third to one-half of direct costs."
To study current trends in glaucoma-related medication expenditures, Byron L. Lam, M.D., from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, and colleagues examined data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2001 to 2006. Beginning in 2006, these data included information about participation in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
The analysis included 1,404 patients ages 18 years and older who had used glaucoma medication.
The authors found that in 2001, the average expenditure per patient for glaucoma medication was $445; by 2006, this amount had increased to $557.
Significant increases appeared among women, those who had not completed high school and those who had only public health insurance. Additionally, average spending for prostaglandin analog medications increased from $168 in 2001 to $271 in 2006; during the same period, average spending for beta-blockers decreased from $167 to $69.
In comparison with individuals who had private insurance, glaucoma medication expenditure among those with Medicare Part D coverage was higher.
The authors explain that as the country's population ages and encompasses more patients with glaucoma, spending for drugs to treat the condition is likely to increase.
"The results of our study as well as an understanding of the factors that account for the increase in glaucoma medication expenditure are important to help develop effective strategies and protocols for the medical management of glaucoma that optimize treatment and control expenditures," they write.
Further study to explain the trends among patient subgroups is needed, the authors conclude.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The financial pressures documented in this study have only intensified since 2006, making these findings more relevant than ever for the estimated 3 million Americans now living with glaucoma. While prostaglandin analogs have become the gold standard first-line treatment due to their efficacy, their rising costs create barriers to consistent medication adherence - the very factor that determines whether patients preserve their sight or progress toward irreversible blindness. The disparities identified among women and publicly insured patients warrant particular attention from ophthalmologists and healthcare systems, suggesting that cost-related non-adherence may be silently contributing to preventable vision loss in these populations. As newer combination medications and sustained-release formulations enter the market at premium prices, the relationship between medication costs and treatment outcomes will require ongoing monitoring to ensure that advances in glaucoma therapy remain accessible to all patients who need them - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by JAMA and Archives Journals and published on 2011/06/16, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.