Glaucoma Care for Adults
Glaucoma can result in gradual and permanent vision loss and ultimately blindness, if not diagnosed and treated. Globally, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. It is estimated to affect more than 400,000 Canadians, and the direct costs of vision loss from glaucoma in Canada are estimated at $300 million annually.
This quality standard focuses on care for adults 18 years of age and older with primary open-angle glaucoma and those who are at risk for primary open-angle glaucoma. It focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and management of this condition and it applies to all care settings. This quality standard does not address care for people with acute angle-closure glaucoma (a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent vision loss).
Quality Statements in Brief
Quality Statement 1: Routine Eye Examination and Comprehensive Glaucoma Assessment People at risk for glaucoma receive a routine eye examination. People suspected of having glaucoma, based on the routine eye examination, receive a comprehensive glaucoma assessment.
Quality Statement 2: Monitoring People with glaucoma or at risk for glaucoma are monitored on an appropriate reassessment schedule, according to their current stage of disease and risk of progression to vision impairment.
Quality Statement 3: Information Eye care providers speak with people with glaucoma or at risk for glaucoma about their diagnosis, prognosis, and management, and offer them relevant and accessible information about their condition at initial and subsequent visits.
Quality Statement 4: Referral and Timely Access to an Ophthalmologist People with glaucoma are referred to and have timely access to an ophthalmologist for consultation, when clinically indicated.
Quality Statement 5: Medications and Laser Therapy People with glaucoma or at risk for glaucoma are offered medications or laser therapy when clinically indicated.
Quality Statement 6: Incisional Surgery People with glaucoma who are at risk of progressing to sight loss despite maximum tolerated medical therapy and laser therapy are offered incisional surger
Last Updated: July 09, 2026
