Quality Standard Details
Glaucoma: Care for Adults
- Publication Date
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2019-March-01
- Status
- Published
- Topic Area
- Eye
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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. The burden of disease is growing as the Ontario population ages.
Although there is no cure for glaucoma, its progression can be managed, and there are significant opportunities to improve the quality of life of people with glaucoma through the delivery of high-quality care.
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).
Ontario Health worked in partnership with the Provincial Vision Task Force to develop this quality standard for glaucoma.
Quality Standard in Brief
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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 surgery.
Supporting Documents
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Patient guide for this quality standard
Know what to ask for in your care
Placemat for this quality standard
A quick-reference resource for clinicians that summarizes the quality standard and includes links to helpful resources and tools
Quality improvement tools and resources for health care professionals, including an action plan template
Supplementary information to support the data collection and measurement process
Additional Resources
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- Case for improvement (slide deck)
Share why this standard was created and the data behind it, to get the support you need to put it into practice - Technical specifications
See the technical specifications for the indicators within the quality standard - Summary of the public feedback we received
- Case for improvement (slide deck)
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
