Glaucoma and many retinal conditions develop with no symptoms early on — here's the screening schedule, who should start earlier, and what a "suspected" checkup finding actually means.
Glaucoma and many retinal conditions typically develop with no noticeable symptoms in their early stages, which is exactly why routine screening — not waiting for symptoms — is how they're actually caught in time. Here is what a screening schedule looks like, who should start earlier than the general guideline, and what typically happens if a routine health checkup flags a "suspected" finding.
When should routine glaucoma screening start?
General guidance recommends an annual comprehensive glaucoma screening starting at age 40, even without any symptoms — a pattern also being seen increasingly in younger adults, including some in their 20s and 30s, often linked to high myopia. Certain groups are advised to start well before 40 and to be screened more frequently, roughly every six months to a year: people with high myopia, a family history of glaucoma, diabetes or hypertension, or a history of elevated eye pressure or prior eye injury.
What happens if a health checkup flags "suspected glaucoma"?
Routine health checkups sometimes report findings like an increased optic disc cupping ratio, elevated eye pressure, or thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer, with a note of "glaucoma suspicion." The appropriate next step is a precision eye exam — typically including OCT (optical coherence tomography) imaging, fundus photography, and a visual field test — to determine whether the finding reflects an actual diagnosis, followed by scheduled monitoring roughly every six months if the finding is confirmed or remains uncertain. This checkup-to-precision-exam-to-monitoring sequence, rather than one single test, is the standard pathway.
When should retina screening be considered?
A retina exam is worth scheduling if you experience floaters (small specks or "flies" drifting across your field of vision), flashes of light, or a portion of your visual field appearing blocked or shadowed — as well as for anyone with high myopia, diabetes, high blood pressure, or anyone over 40 as part of general screening. As with glaucoma, if a routine health checkup flags a "suspected retinal condition" finding (such as suspected macular degeneration, epiretinal membrane, or diabetic retinopathy), the standard next step is a precision fundus and OCT exam, followed by monitoring roughly every six months depending on what is found.
What does dry eye treatment actually involve?
Chronic dry eye linked to blocked meibomian glands (the oil-producing glands along the eyelid margin) is addressed with a structured in-office treatment program, offered in package sizes of 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 sessions. Each session follows the same sequence: a warm compress, IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment using the clinic's Aquacell device, meibomian gland expression, eyelid margin cleansing with a dedicated cleanser, and a soothing mask to finish. This is also directly relevant if you're considering vision correction surgery: severe, untreated dry eye is one of the specific reasons laser correction may be delayed until the dry eye itself is addressed first.
Recommended screening frequency by risk group
| Group | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|
| General adults, age 40+, no symptoms | Annual comprehensive eye exam (glaucoma + retina screening) |
| High myopia, family history of glaucoma, diabetes/hypertension, prior elevated eye pressure or eye injury | Every 6 months to 1 year, even before age 40 |
| "Suspected" finding on a routine health checkup (glaucoma or retina) | Precision exam first (OCT, fundus photography, visual field test), then roughly every 6 months |
| New floaters, flashes, or a shadowed area in your vision | Prompt retina exam — don't wait for the next scheduled checkup |
What this screening is, and isn't, meant to do
This kind of regular screening is about early detection and ongoing monitoring, not a guarantee against ever developing an eye condition. If glaucoma or a retinal issue is confirmed, treatment decisions (which can include monitoring, medication, or, in some cases, laser treatment) are made individually with your ophthalmologist based on your specific findings — this article covers the screening pathway itself, not a comparison of treatment options once a diagnosis is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) I have no symptoms at all — do I really need to bother with glaucoma screening?
A1) Yes, and this is precisely why screening matters — glaucoma commonly causes no noticeable symptoms until meaningful vision loss has already occurred, since peripheral vision is typically affected first and can be easy to overlook. An eye exam is the only reliable way to catch it at an early, more manageable stage.
Q2) My health checkup said "glaucoma suspicion" — does that mean I have glaucoma?
A2) Not necessarily. A "suspicion" flag from a general health checkup means a finding needs a closer look, not that a diagnosis has been made. A precision exam (OCT, fundus photography, and visual field testing) is what actually confirms or rules it out.
Q3) I'm in my late 20s — is glaucoma screening really relevant for me?
A3) It can be, particularly if you have high myopia, which is increasingly recognized as a risk factor even in younger adults. If you have high myopia or any of the other risk factors listed above, earlier and more frequent screening is worth discussing at a consultation rather than waiting until 40.
Q4) What are floaters, and when should I actually worry about them?
A4) Floaters are small specks or thread-like shapes that drift across your vision, and mild occasional floaters are common and often not urgent. A sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or part of your vision appearing blocked or curtained off warrants a prompt retina exam rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Q5) How is dry eye treatment different from just using eye drops?
A5) Eye drops address symptoms temporarily, while a structured meibomian gland treatment program (warm compress, IPL, gland expression, eyelid cleansing) targets the underlying gland blockage that's often the actual cause of chronic dry eye. Whether this in-office program is appropriate for you, and how many sessions, is assessed at your exam.
Visiting Gangnam Central Eye Clinic
Gangnam Central Eye Clinic is located at Teheran-ro 333, Sindo Venture Tower, 9th floor, Seoul, near Seolleung Station Exit 5 (stairs) or Exit 6 (escalator). Hours: Monday and Friday 9:30–18:30, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30–19:30, Saturday 9:30–15:30; closed Wednesdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Dr. Kee, a board-certified ophthalmologist with clinical fellowship training in glaucoma at Samsung Medical Center, treats glaucoma and dry eye patients alongside vision correction and cataract care, and the clinic separately offers retina screening and care. The clinic is a registered foreign-patient-treatment institution (registration no. M-2021-01-08-6311) with consultation support in Korean, English, and Chinese.
This article is provided for general informational purposes. It does not describe or compare specific treatments for confirmed glaucoma or retinal disease. Screening does not guarantee prevention or early detection in every case, and diagnosis and treatment decisions can only be made after an in-person exam with a licensed ophthalmologist.