A new collaboration between Glaucoma Australia and Medadvisor – a medication management app that connects patients with their preferred pharmacy – aims to overcome poor medication adherence that continues to undermine glaucoma control.

Glaucoma remains one of Australia’s leading causes of irreversible vision loss, yet outcomes are too often compromised – not by lack of treatment options, but by patient compliance. Missed doses, delayed refills, and fragmented support after diagnosis weaken disease control – particularly for patients managing glaucoma over decades.

Signed in late 2025, the three-year agreement for the app between Glaucoma Australia and Medavisor formalises a coordinated approach to improving medication adherence for people living with glaucoma, while amplifying national awareness of best-practice glaucoma management and the emerging National Action Plan for Glaucoma through pharmacy and digital health channels (see page 36).

MAKING ADHERENCE PART OF DAILY LIFE

While optometrists and ophthalmologists initiate treatment, the long-term success of glaucoma care depends on what happens between appointments. For many patients – particularly older Australians with multiple chronic conditions – eye drops compete with complex medication regimens, making non-adherence common and often unintentional.

Medadvisor’s digital platform connects patients, carers, and Australian community pharmacies via its free Medadvisor App and pharmacy-driven SMS, helping patients stay on track with medication reminders, refill prompts, and targeted communications. With the partnership, glaucoma-specific education developed by Glaucoma Australia will be shared through these channels, reinforcing why consistency matters and supporting long-term treatment adherence.

Adam Check, Chief Executive Officer of Glaucoma Australia, said medication adherence is one of the most modifiable risk factors in glaucoma progression.

“People don’t stop using their drops because they don’t care – they stop because glaucoma is silent, life is busy, and the consequences feel distant,” he said. “By meeting patients where they already manage their medicines, we can support better adherence without adding pressure to clinical appointments.”

ELEVATING THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY

A key strength of the collaboration is its focus on community pharmacy as an under-utilised partner in glaucoma care. Pharmacists are often the most frequent professional health contact for people with glaucoma yet historically have had limited access to tailored glaucoma education or structured involvement in care pathways.

Under the agreement, Medadvisor will amplify glaucoma-related information directly to people living with glaucoma and those at risk of glaucoma via the Medadvisor app and social channels. Pharmacists will also be linked directly to Glaucoma Australia’s education and training resources via Medadvisor’s pharmacy platform.

Wayne Marinoff, Chief Executive Officer of Medadvisor, said the partnership aligns strongly with Medadvisor’s focus on quality use of medicines.

“Glaucoma is a lifelong condition where consistency is critical,” he said. “Pharmacists are uniquely placed to reinforce adherence, answer questions, and identify issues early. Working with Glaucoma Australia ensures pharmacists have access to trusted, condition-specific resources that genuinely support patients at the point of care.”

SUPPORTING NATIONAL REFORM

Beyond individual behaviour change, the collaboration is also positioned to support broader system reform. Glaucoma Australia will ensure MedAdvisor is actively involved in the organisation’s National Action Plan for Glaucoma, particularly in areas related to consumer education, medication management, and coordinated care.

For a condition that is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, repeated, consistent messaging – delivered through pharmacies and digital platforms – has the potential to reinforce early detection, sustained treatment, and long-term engagement with care, Mr Check said.

“This partnership strengthens the system around clinical care. “If we want better outcomes nationally, we need to support people between appointments, and community pharmacy is a critical part of that ecosystem. And, of course, there’s a variety of emerging developments in AI that will enhance our role and those of our partners – pharmacies being a big part of these developments both now and into the future,” he said.

A SCALABLE MODEL FOR CHRONIC DISEASE CARE

Importantly, the collaboration establishes a framework that is cooperative rather than transactional, allowing both organisations to deliver joint initiatives while retaining independence. It also creates opportunities to engage industry partners in supporting glaucoma and quality use of medicines education.

As pressure on specialist services grows and chronic disease prevalence rises, partnerships that connect digital platforms, pharmacies, and patient organisations are likely to become increasingly important.

For glaucoma – where vision loss is preventable but irreversible – the stakes are high. Mr Check said that by embedding adherence support and trusted education into everyday medicine management, the Glaucoma Australia– Medadvisor collaboration represents a practical step toward closing the gap between treatment efficacy and real-world outcomes.

ABOUT MEDADVISOR

Medadvisor digitally connects nearly four million patients and more than 95% of pharmacies across Australia.

One of the most widely adopted digital health solutions in the country, its extensive network combined with its integrated care ecosystem, enables partners across the healthcare industry to connect with patients both directly and through the pharmacy. According to Medadvisor, its patient engagement solutions have, on average, delivered 20–40% improvements in patient medication adherence.

Visit: mymedadvisor.com.