Can glaucoma be cured?

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be effectively controlled with treatment. The optic nerve damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed — which is why early detection is so important. With appropriate treatment to lower intraocular pressure, the great majority of patients retain good functional vision for life. The goal of treatment is to reduce pressure to a level at which further nerve damage stops, and then to monitor for any ongoing progression.

The most common form — primary open-angle glaucoma — is entirely painless and causes no symptoms until a significant amount of peripheral vision has been lost. This is why regular screening is so important for people at risk. Acute angle-closure glaucoma, a less common form, can cause sudden severe eye pain, headache, nausea, and blurred vision — this is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

How often should I be tested for glaucoma?

People at elevated risk — including those with a first-degree relative with glaucoma, anyone over 60, people of African or Asian ethnic background, those with elevated intraocular pressure, and people with high myopia — should be screened annually or biennially by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Once a glaucoma diagnosis is established, the frequency of specialist review depends on the type, severity, and stability of the condition.

Are glaucoma assessments covered by Medicare?

Yes — specialist glaucoma consultations, optic nerve OCT, visual field testing, and IOP measurement all attract Medicare rebates. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and surgical procedures including trabeculectomy and MIGS are also rebatable. Out-of-pocket fees may apply above the Medicare schedule fee for the consultation and treatment components.

Should my family members be tested for glaucoma?

Yes — first-degree relatives (parents, children, siblings) of someone with glaucoma have a substantially higher risk of developing the condition themselves. RANZCO recommends that first-degree relatives be screened regularly by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, even if they have no symptoms. The risk is inherited, and glaucoma frequently runs in families.

Glaucoma Specialist Northern Suburbs Melbourne | Northern Eye Consultants

Creator: Northern Eye Consultants
Published: 2026-06-07

Glaucoma affects more than 300,000 Australians and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. What makes it particularly dangerous is that the most common form causes no pain and no symptoms until a significant portion of peripheral vision has been permanently lost — earning it the name "the silent thief of sight." For patients across Melbourne's northern suburbs — including Epping, Whittlesea, Diamond Creek, Bundoora, Mill Park, and Greensborough — subspecialty glaucoma assessment and management is available locally at Northpark Private Hospital.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of conditions in which the optic nerve — the cable connecting the eye to the brain — is progressively damaged. In most cases this damage is related to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which compresses and gradually destroys optic nerve fibres. Because peripheral vision is affected first, and the brain partially compensates by filling in the gaps, patients typically do not notice any change until the damage is advanced.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is by far the most common form. The drainage angle of the eye remains open, but the drainage meshwork becomes less efficient over time, causing IOP to rise gradually. It is bilateral, progressive, and entirely asymptomatic in its early and moderate stages.

Who is at risk?

Several well-established risk factors are associated with glaucoma development. The strongest are: a family history of glaucoma in a first-degree relative; age over 60; African or Asian ethnic background; elevated intraocular pressure (ocular hypertension); high myopia (short-sightedness); and a thin central cornea. Previous eye injuries and certain systemic conditions including diabetes can also increase risk.

Approximately half of all people with glaucoma in Australia are undiagnosed. If you have any of the risk factors above, regular screening by your optometrist is recommended even if your vision feels normal.

What does a glaucoma assessment involve?

A comprehensive glaucoma assessment at Northern Eye Consultants includes several components. Intraocular pressure is measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry — the gold standard. The optic disc is examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and photographed for baseline documentation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fibre layer provides an objective, quantitative measurement of nerve fibre thickness that can be tracked over time. Automated visual field testing (Humphrey perimetry) maps peripheral vision, detecting any loss. Gonioscopy examines the drainage angle. Central corneal thickness measurement is also performed, as it affects IOP interpretation.

Together, these investigations allow precise characterisation of any existing damage and establish a baseline against which future progression can be measured.

Treatment options

The primary goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower intraocular pressure to a target level at which further optic nerve damage stops. Treatment does not reverse existing damage — it prevents further loss.

Eye drops are the first line of treatment for most patients. Prostaglandin analogues (such as latanoprost and bimatoprost) are the most commonly used and are taken once nightly. Beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and other agents may be added if a single drop is insufficient to achieve target pressure.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a safe, effective office-based laser treatment that improves drainage through the trabecular meshwork. It can be used as a first-line treatment or as an adjunct to drops. SLT is repeatable and has no significant long-term side effects.

Surgical options including trabeculectomy, tube shunt surgery, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures are used when drops and laser cannot adequately control pressure, or when pressure targets require a level of reduction that medication alone cannot achieve. Further information about glaucoma management is available on our glaucoma service page.

Why subspecialty care matters

Northern Eye Consultants includes a glaucoma subspecialist with appointments at the Glaucoma Unit of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and at Monash Health. This depth of experience in complex and surgical glaucoma cases is particularly important for patients requiring trabeculectomy, tube surgery, or MIGS, and for patients with secondary glaucoma, angle-closure disease, or combined conditions such as glaucoma and cataract.

Glaucoma monitoring — why ongoing care is essential

Glaucoma is a lifelong condition. Even when pressure is well controlled and no progression is detected, regular monitoring is essential because the condition can change over time — treatment responses can wane, and pressure can rise. The frequency of follow-up visits depends on the severity of the condition, the stability of visual fields, and the treatment being used. Patients on drops are typically reviewed every three to six months; stable patients on no treatment may be reviewed annually.

To arrange a glaucoma consultation at Northern Eye Consultants, contact our rooms on (03) 9466 8822 or ask your GP or optometrist to refer via HealthLink EDI nthneyec.

Glaucoma Testing and Treatment in Melbourne's Northern Suburbs