Glaucoma is a chronic medical condition. You should work with your eye care professional and his or her staff to get the information you need for successful treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. As a patient, the decisions you make and the actions you take to treat your condition make you an integral part of your eye care therapy.

Questions to ask your eye care professional
This checklist of questions may help you gather the information you need about glaucoma and its treatment. Print it, check off the questions that you have right now, and bring the list with you to your next appointment so you’ll remember what you want to talk about. You may want to ask other questions on the list at a future appointment. Over time, you can find the answers to the questions you have about your condition and treatment.

What is my diagnosis? What caused my condition? What is the difference between my visual acuity and my visual field? Has my visual field or my optic nerve been affected by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP)? Should I watch for any particular symptoms and notify you if they occur? Should I make any lifestyle changes?

What is the best long-term treatment for my condition? What are the benefits of this treatment? What are the risks and side effects associated with this treatment?

What kinds of tests will I have? What can I expect to find out from these tests? When will I know the results? How do you monitor if damage to my optic nerve is getting worse over time? Can I get copies of my test results for my records?

Don't be embarrassed to say "I don't understand." Make sure you are comfortable with your doctor's answers before you leave the office Bring a friend or family member to your appointments—to take notes, to remind you of your questions, or just for support Ask for written instructions, printed materials, or references to relevant Web sites Talk to the medical staff and support personnel in your doctor's office. They can help with information, follow-up questions, and referrals to other services. Take an active role in your eye care