Stable on current treatment
Pressure and scans are steady. Drops or laser are working. We keep watching on a planned schedule.
Glaucoma · Himayat Nagar
Glaucoma: diagnosis and long-term monitoring
Glaucoma cannot be cured, but in most people it can be controlled with treatment and regular monitoring. Monitoring over time is the central part of glaucoma care.
Glaucoma monitoring illustration What it is
It quietly damages the optic nerve.
Glaucoma usually affects side vision first, and the change is gradual, so it is often not noticed early. Measurement matters more than how your eyes feel, and a "normal" eye pressure doesn't rule it out.
At each review
Stable for now, or time to adjust?
Your surgeon compares every visit to the last. Decisions are based on trends over time, not single readings.
Pressure or fields changing
Readings or scans are shifting. Treatment is adjusted when readings change.
Treatment paths
The least treatment that keeps pressure at target.
Most glaucoma is controlled with drops. Some patients benefit from laser. We choose carefully and keep watching.
Each visit
How we diagnose and monitor.
The same diagnostics we use for diabetic eye screening, so one visit can cover more than one concern. New to these tests? See OCT vs visual field, explained.
Visual fields
Automated testing maps side vision. Not painful, but it needs your attention.
OCT imaging
Measures the nerve-fibre layer and optic nerve head in detail.
Compare visits
Every scan compared to your baseline and the last visit, not judged in isolation.
Surgeon review
The ophthalmologist reviews your fields and OCT before your plan is set.
Patient guide
Glaucoma testing and care: what to know before you decide.
Glaucoma usually has no symptoms until late, so most of the work is measurement and comparison over time. This is what that involves.
Who it is for
- Adults over 40, as part of a routine eye check.
- Anyone with a parent, brother or sister who has glaucoma.
- People with diabetes, high short-sight, or an earlier eye injury.
- People who have used steroid tablets, inhalers, creams or eye drops for a long time.
What happens, step by step
- Eye pressure.Measured at each visit.
- Examination.The front of the eye and its drainage angle are examined, and the optic nerve is examined through a dilated pupil.
- Scans and field test.An OCT scan of the optic nerve and an automated visual field test are done as a baseline.
- Explanation.You are told whether the findings show glaucoma, a risk of glaucoma to be watched, or neither.
- Treatment, if needed.Usually daily pressure-lowering drops, or a YAG laser procedure for certain types of narrow angle.
- Monitoring.The same tests are repeated at set intervals and compared with your baseline.
Which tests are done, and why
- Eye pressure by air puff.A non-contact reading of the pressure inside the eye. Pressure is the one factor treatment can change.
- OCT of the optic nerve.Measures the thickness of the nerve fibre layer, which thins as glaucoma progresses.
- Automated visual field test.Maps your side vision and shows whether, and where, any has been lost.
- Corneal thickness.Affects how the pressure reading is interpreted.
- Dilated optic nerve examination.The surgeon looks directly at the nerve head for the changes glaucoma causes.
What you feel
- The air-puff pressure check is painless. The puff can make you blink.
- The OCT scan is painless and takes a few minutes. Nothing touches the eye.
- The visual field test is painless but needs concentration. You press a button each time you see a small light, one eye at a time, and it can feel tiring.
- Dilating drops sting briefly and blur near vision for a few hours.
Living with treatment
- Drops.Used every day, usually for life. They lower pressure and do not change how your eyes feel, so it is easy to forget them.
- Side effects.Drops can cause redness or stinging, and some affect breathing or pulse. Tell the surgeon if you have asthma or a heart condition.
- YAG laser for narrow angles.A short procedure done in the clinic under numbing drops. Vision can be blurred for a few hours and the eye pressure is checked afterwards.
- Reviews.Pressure, OCT and visual fields are repeated at intervals set by how stable your eyes are.
Risks and limits
- Vision already lost to glaucoma does not return. Treatment aims to slow or stop further loss.
- Treatment is long-term. If drops are stopped, pressure can rise again without any symptom.
- Some eyes continue to change despite treatment, and the plan is then adjusted.
- YAG laser risks include a temporary rise in eye pressure, inflammation, and glare.
The surgeon explains what your own results show, and the reason for any change in treatment, at each review.
How much time to keep
- A first glaucoma assessment takes longer than a routine check, because the field test and scans are added to a dilated examination.
- Do not drive yourself home after dilating drops.
What affects the cost
- Which tests are needed at a visit, such as OCT and visual fields.
- The drops prescribed, which are a continuing cost.
- Whether a laser procedure is advised.
- Insurance cover for glaucoma care depends on your policy.
The fee for each test is told to you before it is done.
What to bring
- All the eye drops you currently use, in their bottles.
- Earlier visual field and OCT printouts. Comparison over time is what shows whether glaucoma is stable.
- A list of your medicines, including inhalers and any steroid.
- Details of any family member with glaucoma.
How care is organised here
Assessment, procedure and follow-up as one plan.
Your assessment, your glaucoma care and follow-up visits are planned together, so the findings from your consultation carry through to the procedure and the reviews afterwards.
1
ConsultationExamination, measurements and time for your questions.
2
ProcedurePlanned from the measurements taken at your consultation.
3
Follow-upReview visits at set intervals, with written instructions.
At your consultation
What is discussed before any procedure.
- You meet the operating surgeon before the day of the procedure.
- The lens or treatment plan is discussed in relation to your eye and your daily needs.
- Risks, benefits and alternatives are explained, and results vary from person to person.
- You are told whom to contact after the procedure and when your reviews are due.
Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital
Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad. Established 1975.
Surgeon: Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can glaucoma be cured?
Glaucoma is usually managed long-term, not cured. Consistent monitoring and treatment protect vision over decades.
Will I go blind?
With early detection, treatment and regular monitoring, the risk of serious sight loss from glaucoma is much reduced, though it cannot be ruled out in every case. Regular follow-up is the most important part of care.
How often should I be tested?
Depends on your diagnosis and stability. We set a follow-up schedule and compare each visit to the last.
Do I need drops forever?
Many patients need long-term drops or other treatment. The aim is the least treatment that keeps your pressure at target, reviewed at every visit.
Is the visual field test painful?
No. It requires attention and can feel tiring, but it is not painful.
What does glaucoma testing and monitoring cost?
It depends on which tests your case needs and how often you're monitored, which the surgeon decides after seeing your eyes. A written estimate is given after the consultation. You can contact the hospital on WhatsApp or by phone.
Drops or laser: which will I need?
Most glaucoma is controlled with drops. Some patients benefit from a laser procedure such as YAG peripheral iridotomy. The least-invasive option that keeps your pressure at target is chosen, and monitoring continues.
My father has glaucoma. Should I get tested?
Yes. Glaucoma can run in families, so first-degree relatives benefit from a baseline check even without symptoms. A simple eye-pressure and optic-nerve assessment gives you a starting point.
Medically reviewed by Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104. Last reviewed 15 June 2026.
Appointments and contact
You can reach Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital on WhatsApp or by phone during OPD hours.
OPD hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM and 4:30 PM to 7 PM. Closed on Sunday.