Despite the significant advancements in diagnostic tools and treatments for glaucoma, it remains a significant public health issue worldwide.
Researchers have found that approximately 4.22 million people in the United States are living with glaucoma, with about 1.49 million experiencing some level of vision impairment.1 The prevalence of glaucoma is 1.62% among individuals aged 18 and older and is even higher among those aged 40 or older, with estimates ranging from 2.56 to 4%.1
Drawing on responses from over 400 optometrists, this report reflects the opinions of optometrists across diverse professional backgrounds and practice settings, highlighting the belief that glaucoma is a field ready for innovation and evolution.
Employing a mixed-methods approach—combining quantitative and qualitative data through structured and open-ended questions—the 2025 Glaucoma Report explores prevalence, preparedness, preferences in disease diagnostics and management, confidence in treatment, feelings surrounding co-management, and more.
Read on—and download the report—to gain insight into the challenges eyecare professionals face with glaucoma and the creative ways they are overcoming them.
Download the 2025 Glaucoma Report now, or keep reading to preview the findings!
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2025 Glaucoma Report
Discover the challenges encountered by optometrists in diagnosing, treating, and managing glaucoma, as well as which therapies your colleagues are interested in learning more about and adding to their practices.
The 2025 Glaucoma Report covers questions regarding:
- Glaucoma prevalence and priority
- How many patients have been diagnosed with glaucoma?
- How important is glaucoma to generating revenue?
- How interested are ODs in expanding their glaucoma practice?
- Overall confidence in treating and managing glaucoma
- How do optometrists rate their glaucoma education and knowledge?
- How comfortable are ODs with diagnosing and treating glaucoma?
- What resources do optometrists feel would help them gain confidence?
- Preferred glaucoma treatments
- What are the top first- and second-line treatments for glaucoma?
- How do ODs rank their knowledge on implantable sustained-release delivery systems and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS)?
- Referrals and co-management for glaucoma
- How many patients are OD referring to other specialists, and why?
- At what point do optometrists determine it is appropriate to refer patients?
- What MIGS are optometrists most often co-managing?
- And more!
Ranging from expected to surprising, the answers provide a plethora of information on patient care trends, emerging diagnostic and treatment tools, and attitudes on glaucoma management.
Download the 2025 Glaucoma Report now, or keep reading for a sneak peek at our findings!
ODs welcome more billing & coding and treatment resources
With ever-changing insurance guidelines and annual ICD-10 and CPT updates, the topic of billing and coding is always top of mind. Our survey supported this, with ODs sharing that billing and coding was one of the practice management resources that would be most helpful in growing the glaucoma side of their practice.
However, with a continuous flow of new procedure medications and more in the pipeline—such as drug-eluting contact lenses, micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT), AI algorithms, and the FYXS Ocular Pressure Adjusting Pump—they equally craved more education on glaucoma treatments. The two were tied at 27.55%, followed by a desire for support in both co-management and staff management.
Understanding of the role of corneal hysteresis increased
Overall, our respondents reported an increased level of knowledge on several fronts compared to last year’s report. They indicated growth in their knowledge of implantable sustained-release drug delivery systems (7.39%) and MIGS (1.28%), as compared to the 2024 findings.
However, the greatest surge was in respondents’ understanding of the role of corneal hysteresis as a risk factor for progressive glaucoma and/or conversion to glaucoma, for which there was a 7.99% increase. This is indicative of a more focused diagnostic approach acknowledging corneal biomechanical properties as a significant factor in the disease pathway.
Optometrists are co-managing a wide range of MIGS
The limitations and challenges with topical medications have long been a pain point for ODs; these include intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations, systemic side effects, potential tissue deterioration, and patient compliance, which is always a major concern. In this report, the surveyed respondents indicated that less than 1% were fully compliant, and less than 50% were compliant 75 to 99% of the time.
Fortunately, with the advent of MIGS, eyecare providers now have an arsenal of surgical procedures to lower IOP, leading to a paradigm shift in glaucoma management. As interventional glaucoma takes center stage, optometrists are co-managing a wide array of MIGS, with the iStent trabecular micro-bypass device at the top of the leaderboard in both the first and second spots.
In closing
With the growing glaucomatous population, it will become even more critical for ODs to stay informed of the latest diagnostic developments/treatment options as well as become more actively engaged in the co-management process.
The growing turn towards interventional glaucoma was obvious in this year’s responses. In 2025, optometrists treating glaucoma appear eager to enhance their understanding of the disease and broaden their knowledge of coding and billing, as well as the latest medical treatment options, including MIGS.
