Glaucoma test: what happens at an optician and at a specialist assessment

Glaucoma rarely causes symptoms early, so testing is the only reliable way to find it.

At the optician

A routine eye test usually includes eye pressure (often with an air puff), a look at or photograph of the optic nerve and, where needed, a visual field test. If anything looks suspicious, you are referred for a specialist assessment.

At a specialist assessment

Goldmann tonometry — an accurate contact pressure reading after numbing drops. Pachymetry — corneal thickness, which affects how pressure readings should be interpreted. Gonioscopy — a special lens to examine the drainage angle and tell open-angle from angle-closure disease. OCT scan — measures the nerve fibre layer around the optic nerve. Visual field test — maps peripheral vision. Dilated optic nerve examination. Allow around an hour.

Who should be tested

Everyone over 40 should have regular eye tests. In England, NHS eye tests are free for people aged 40 or over whose parent, sibling or child has glaucoma, and for anyone diagnosed with glaucoma or at risk as advised by an ophthalmologist. Higher risk also includes people of Black African or Caribbean heritage, people with high short sight and people with diabetes.

After the tests

Results lead to one of: no glaucoma; ocular hypertension or glaucoma suspect needing monitoring; or glaucoma needing treatment. See can glaucoma be cured?.

Seeing Ms Tahmina Pearsall

Ms Pearsall carries out full consultant glaucoma assessments. See glaucoma care.

Ms Tahmina Pearsall is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon who qualified in 1993 and has more than 30 years of experience and over 50,000 procedures performed. She trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital, and sees private patients at multiple clinic locations, including Harley Street in London. Read her full credentials.

Ms Pearsall sees patients at Harley Street, London and other clinic locations. Patients travel from across the UK, including Brighton & Hove and Liverpool, and from Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

The first telephone enquiry is free — arrange a free initial call to explain what happened and check whether a review is likely to help. A full clinical consultation with Ms Pearsall costs £250. Treatment prices are listed on the pricing page and confirmed in writing after examination.

This article is general information written for patients and does not replace an individual examination.