How Often Should You Have Your Eyes Checked for Glaucoma?

Many people only book an eye examination when they notice changes in their vision. However, when it comes to glaucoma, waiting for symptoms is not always the best approach. Regular eye checks are often recommended based on your age and individual risk factors, even if your eyesight appears unchanged.

Understanding how often glaucoma examinations are advised can help you stay on track with monitoring and receive appropriate care when needed.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. This damage is often associated with raised pressure inside the eye, although glaucoma can also occur in people with normal eye pressure.

One of the challenges with glaucoma is that it usually develops gradually. Vision loss often begins in the peripheral field while central vision remains unaffected until the later stages. Because these early changes are difficult to notice, many people are unaware they have glaucoma until significant damage has already occurred.

Although glaucoma can affect anyone, some people are more likely to develop the condition and may benefit from closer monitoring.

Risk factors include:

Even if you have no symptoms, your ophthalmologist may recommend regular eye examinations if one or more of these factors apply to you. Early monitoring allows any changes to be identified before they begin affecting your vision.

The most appropriate review schedule depends on your individual circumstances. Your ophthalmologist will recommend an examination interval based on your overall eye health and glaucoma risk.

Adults without significant risk factors generally require less frequent glaucoma screening. However, routine comprehensive eye examinations become increasingly important with age, as the likelihood of glaucoma rises over time.

Many ophthalmologists recommend eye examinations every few years for younger adults, with more frequent reviews from middle age onwards. In Singapore, regular eye examinations are encouraged from around the age of 45 to detect glaucoma and other age-related eye conditions early.

People with recognised risk factors often benefit from annual eye examinations or reviews at intervals advised by their ophthalmologist.

The exact schedule varies depending on the number and type of risk factors present. For example, someone with raised eye pressure and a strong family history may require closer monitoring than someone with only one mild risk factor.

Rather than following a fixed timetable, your review schedule is personalised to help detect any early signs of glaucoma as soon as possible.

Glaucoma is a long-term condition that requires ongoing follow-up, even when your vision appears stable.

Many patients attend reviews every three to six months, although this varies depending on the type of glaucoma, the severity of optic nerve damage, current treatment and how well the condition is controlled.

Each review builds on previous examinations. Rather than relying on a single test result, your ophthalmologist looks for changes over time to determine whether glaucoma is stable or progressing.

Measuring intraocular pressure remains an important part of glaucoma monitoring. However, eye pressure alone does not determine whether glaucoma is present or worsening. Different people tolerate different levels of eye pressure, which is why the findings are interpreted alongside other examination results.

Your ophthalmologist carefully examines the optic nerve for structural changes that may indicate progression. Photographs or specialised imaging scans may be repeated periodically to compare findings over time and identify subtle changes that may not be visible during a routine examination.

Visual field testing assesses your peripheral vision by measuring how well you detect small points of light in different areas of your visual field. This helps identify vision loss that may not yet be noticeable in everyday activities.

Glaucoma often requires lifelong surveillance, with the timing of each review tailored to your individual risk factors and eye health. Keeping up with your recommended screening schedule allows your ophthalmologist to make informed decisions about your care and respond promptly if your condition changes.

At the Eye & Glaucoma Surgeons, treatment is guided by Dr Daniel Su Hsien Wen, who provides comprehensive glaucoma assessment, personalised monitoring and long-term management for patients at risk of or living with glaucoma. If you are due for a glaucoma screening or would like to discuss your risk, contact the clinic to arrange a consultation.

Dr. Daniel Su Hsien Wen

MBBS(S'pore) , MMed(Ophth) , FRCS(Edin) , FAMS

Ophthalmologist

Partner and Senior Consultant

Dr Daniel Su Hsien Wen is a partner and senior consultant at Eye & Retina Surgeons and a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist. He previously served as senior consultant with the Glaucoma Service at the Singapore National Eye Centre before completing advanced glaucoma fellowship training at the internationally recognised Duke Eye Center in the United States. Combining extensive clinical experience with advanced subspecialty expertise, Dr Su provides personalised glaucoma care focused on preserving vision through early diagnosis, tailored treatment and long-term management.