How Often Should I See My Doctor if I Have Glaucoma?

What is glaucoma and why can’t it be treated in just one visit or one procedure?
Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve becomes damaged over time, most often because the pressure inside the eye is higher than the optic nerve can safely tolerate. This damage leads to gradual, often unnoticed, vision loss. Once optic nerve damage occurs, it cannot be reversed, which means glaucoma is a lifelong condition.

Fortunately, treatment by lowering eye pressure can prevent further damage. Your doctor may set a target eye pressure goal to help protect your optic nerve. Treatment may include eye drops, lasers, or surgeries to lower eye pressure.

Regular follow-ups are essential. Eye pressure can change over time, treatments can lose effectiveness, and sometimes the target pressure needs to be adjusted. Ongoing monitoring allows your doctor to track your condition carefully and adjust treatment as needed to protect your vision. 

How often should I see my doctor if I have glaucoma?

The frequency of visits depends on several factors, including how advanced your glaucoma is and how well it is controlled. If you are considered at risk for developing glaucoma (often called a glaucoma suspect) or have mild, stable disease, you may only need yearly visits. Patients with more advanced glaucoma, higher eye pressures, or signs of worsening damage typically need more frequent follow-up.

What are the important follow-up tests and how often should I have them?

A visual field test measures how wide an area you can see, and it helps detect changes caused by glaucoma. Although the test can feel tedious and boring, it is one of the most important tools to check whether your glaucoma is stable or getting worse.

An optic nerve scan measures the thickness of the nerve layer in the back of the eye and helps in the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma. It is another very important tool for tracking the health of your optic nerve.

For both these tests, the frequency varies depending on factors such as the stage of glaucoma and how well it is controlled. If the test results are unclear, or very variable, or if there is a concern that the disease is rapidly getting worse, then more frequent tests are required. Once a year is the usual frequency for most patients with early and fairly stable disease, but when it is more advanced or might be worsening, the tests may need to be repeated more frequently.

Your eye doctor will determine if you need other follow-up tests to track your eye health.

Posted on April 6, 2026. Article by Benjamin Katz, MD and Arsham Sheybani, MD.