Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, usually from raised pressure inside the eye, and can affect sight if untreated. Read more about glaucoma →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the ophthalmology wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
ophthalmology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 2 weeks |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Dorset | 4 weeks |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | Dudley | 5 weeks |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | Reigate and Banstead | 5 weeks |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | Wiltshire | 6 weeks |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | Brent | 6 weeks |
| Airedale NHS Foundation Trust | Bradford | 6 weeks |
| Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Cheshire East | 7 weeks |
About glaucoma
Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries what you see from the eye to the brain. It is usually linked to a build-up of pressure inside the eye when fluid cannot drain away properly. The most common type comes on slowly and painlessly, and because it affects the edges of your vision first, many people do not notice it until it is picked up at a routine eye test. Left unchecked it can affect sight, so finding it early matters. A much rarer type comes on suddenly with a painful, red eye and needs emergency care.
How it is treated
Glaucoma is usually found and monitored with eye tests that measure the pressure in the eye, check the optic nerve and map your field of vision, rather than with a scan. The aim of treatment is to lower the pressure and protect the sight you have, because damage already done cannot be reversed. Most people start with daily eye drops. If drops are not enough, laser treatment can help the eye drain, and the eye clinic will talk through further options if the pressure is still not controlled. The type of glaucoma and how advanced it is guide which is used.
Living with it
Glaucoma is usually a long-term condition that is managed rather than cured, so regular check-ups at the eye clinic continue to track the pressure and your field of vision. Using drops exactly as prescribed, every day, is the single most important thing, as it keeps the pressure controlled and sight stable for most people. Tell your optician or eye clinic if your vision changes. Because some types run in families, close relatives are often advised to have regular eye tests too.
Sources: NHS: Glaucoma. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.