Glaucoma

Coverage

Medicare will cover services like surgical procedures to repair the function of your eye due to a chronic eye condition and an eye exam to diagnose vision problems. If you’re at risk for glaucoma or have diabetes, Medicare will cover an annual eye exam.

Medicare Part B covers a glaucoma test once every 12 months for those who are at high risk. Those who are qualified as high risk are people who:

Have diabetes
Have a family history of glaucoma
Are African American and at least 50 years old
Are Hispanic and at least 65 years old

Costs

You will be required to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount and with any hospital expenses, you’ll be required to pay your copay. For more information on how much will you have to pay or what the total cost will be, talk to your doctor.

What to Know

Glaucoma symptoms vary depending on the type you are suffering from. The most common symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are a gradual loss of peripheral vision and advanced tunnel vision.

The most common glaucoma symptoms for acute angle-closure are the following: