People With Medicare

Glaucoma Test

What it is:

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually take away your sight. Glaucoma usually happens when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises.

To check for glaucoma, your doctor will look at the inside of your eyes. He or she may measure the pressure in your eye or the angle of your eye.

Why the screening is important:

If you find and treat glaucoma early, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.

Who is covered:

People at risk for glaucoma are covered for this test. You are at higher risk for glaucoma if you:

  • have a family history of glaucoma
  • have diabetes
  • are African American and age 50 or older
  • are Hispanic and age 65 or older

How often is it covered:

The test is covered once every 12 months. Ask your doctor how to get this test.

What you pay:

If you have Original Medicare, you pay 20% of the amount Medicare approves for your doctor visit and any remaining part of your Medicare Part B annual deductible ($147 in 2013).

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, check with your plan to find out if any copayments and/or a deductible apply.

Learn more about Glaucoma Tests on Medicare.gov.

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Information on this web site was compiled from approved materials of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.