開放隅角緑内障の再診状況

Status of follow-up visits of patients with open-angle glaucoma

　緑内障の諸検査を施行した後，病態説明を行い，少なくとも1年以上，外来で経過を観察した開放隅角緑内障，高眼圧症，glaucoma-like disc 331例の再診状況を調べた。188例（56.8％）では「定期的」に，41例（12.4％）は「時々」，31例（9.4％）は「稀」に再来した。しかし，47例（14.2％）は受診が「中断」し，24例（7.2％）では再診がなかった。

　再診状況と通院時間，年齢，治療の有無の関連を調べると，通院時間が短い群（p＜0.02），年齢が高い群（p＜0.001），治療群（p＜0.001）で再診が多く，特に治療は再診への動機付けとなることが示された。一方，無治療で経過を観察した93例中54例（58.1％）にも「定期的」再診はみられた。

We reviewed 331 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension regarding their follow-up visits during one year or longer after the initial diagnosis. Out of the series, 188 patients (56.8%) visited us at an interval of 1 to 2 months, 41 patients (12.4%) at an interval of 3 to 6 months, 31 patients (9.4%) at an interval of 6 to 12 months, and 47 patients (14.2%) discontinued follow-up visits. Twenty-four patients (7.2%) failed to show up after the initial diagnosis. Regular follow-up visits were made by patients when 1) their stay in the outpatient clinic was short (p＜0.02), 2) they were aged 60 years or over (p＜0.001), or 3) they were under medication or had received surgery before (p＜0.001) . These findings show that continued treatment is a major motivation of follow-up visits. Out of 93 patients who did not receive medications, however, 54 patients (58%) visited us at an interval of 1 to 2 months.