Can an app promote reliable use their prescribed artificial tears?
A study investigates whether a mobile reminder app can improve adherence to prescribed artificial tear usage for patients with dry eye disease. The research highlights that while forgetfulness is a primary barrier to treatment, the effectiveness of digital interventions remains under-explored in this clinical context.
Why it matters
Improving patient adherence to chronic eye care regimens can significantly reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life for those with dry eye disease.
Fig 1. Reminder app that sent notifications at the four times chosen by the participant Artificial tears as a first-line treatment are typically recommended for at least four-times-daily instillation, for at least one month of regular use to achieve meaningful symptom relief 1 . However, real-world adherence to recommendations is poor due to forgetfulness, lack of environmental cues and underestimation of treatment importance, with patients often using drops reactively rather than preventively.
Behavioural frameworks such as the COM-B model and Health Belief Model (HBM) suggest that compliance depends on capability, opportunity and motivation, with forgetfulness (the most cited barrier 2 ) being modifiable 3 .
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