If you have recently been diagnosed with glaucoma, you’re bound to have a lot of questions, and you deserve to have them answered clearly and in a way that is useful to you. But how do you know which questions to ask? 

The most common questions for new glaucoma patients fall into four main categories: disease basics, treatment options, lifestyle adjustments, and resources and support. The Glaucoma Research Foundation offers some insights and suggestions on what questions to ask your doctor about glaucoma.*

Disease basics

Upon receiving your glaucoma diagnosis, some basic questions to ask your doctor may include:

• What type of glaucoma do I have?
• What caused my glaucoma? 
• How will it affect my vision in both the short-term and long-term?
• Is it hereditary? Is it possible for me to pass it on to my children?

Treatment options

Treatments for glaucoma can include eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, and/or surgery. 

Some questions to ask your doctor are:

• What are the treatment options for my specific situation?
• Which of those do you think is best for me? 
• What are the effects that treatment should have? 
• How will I know if the treatment we choose is working?
• What are the potential side effects of this treatment?
• What happens if I decide I don’t want that type of treatment? 
• Will the treatment interact with any other medications or supplements I’m taking or treatments I’m receiving?  
• How long will I have to undergo treatment?
• How often will I need checkups?

Lifestyle adjustments

Potential lifestyle changes may instantly leap to mind when you receive your diagnosis, such as possible activity restrictions, but others may not be so obvious. 

Here are some helpful questions to ask about lifestyle adjustments:

• What dietary changes should I make to support my eye health and the effectiveness of my treatments?
• Are there any types of exercise, sports, or other activities I should avoid?
• Do I need to make any adjustments at work?
• What kind of eye care can I do at home? At work? While traveling?
• Are there sleep positions that are particularly good or bad for eye pressure?
• What precautions should I take while driving?
• Are there any stress management techniques you would recommend?

Resources and support

There is a wide variety of resources available for people living with glaucoma. 

In addition to doing your own research, you may want to ask your doctor:

• Can you recommend any local or online glaucoma support groups?
• What are some reliable sources for sight aids?
• Are there programs or organizations that offer financial assistance for medications,  magnifying devices, and other aids? Who should I contact?
• Who in your office can I call when I have questions? What is the best way to contact them?

Preparing for your appointment

As you get ready to ask a lot of questions, you must also be ready to record the answers to them. 

For your appointment, you may want to:

• bring a notebook or notepad to write down information;
• bring along a family member or friend who can help fill in details you might miss; and
• ask your doctor for a clear, readable printout of your treatment and instructions.

Remember, your doctors and medical team are there to help. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and ask for clarification if there’s anything you don’t understand.

For more suggestions, please visit the FitEyes page on “Newly Diagnosed: Question to Ask Your Doctor About Glaucoma.”

*Glaucoma Research Foundation. (2020, June 26). Glaucoma: Questions to Ask Your Doctor.

Any sources from outside of Prevent Blindness do not imply an endorsement from Prevent Blindness. The contents of the material used are the responsibility of the authoring organization, Responsum Health.