When should I start glaucoma treatment?

When should I start glaucoma treatment? That will depend on the type of glaucoma that you have and the severity of the condition.

Some people require no treatment at all. If you have risk factors for glaucoma such as a family history of glaucoma and elevated eye pressure (called ocular hypertension), then all you will probably need is some form of regular monitoring to determine whether your risk factors are changing over time and whether you are developing the disease.

Sometimes, we recommend that we repeat the eye pressure measurements, the optic disc scans, and visual fields tests every 4 to 6 months for one to two years to measure the rate of change. If your risk factors are changing, then we might recommend starting glaucoma treatment after we have collected and analysed this information.

If we are sure that you have glaucoma based on the testing described above, then we will generally recommend that you should start glaucoma treatment straight away to reduce your eye pressure. The treatment that we suggest depends on the type of glaucoma that you have and the severity of your disease. Once the patient has started treatment, it is also important to remember glaucoma is usually a long-term (if not lifelong) decision and commitment to treatment.

Maintain vision after 40 with regular checks

Many people don’t catch vision loss until it’s too late. If you’re over 40, avoid unnecessary vision loss by having a VisionSafe Eye Check on a regular basis. Book one today.