Does Medicare Cover Glaucoma?

Written by:

Kristy Snyder

Reviewed by:

Amy Albert

4 min read

Key Takeaways

Medicare covers annual glaucoma screenings for high-risk individuals, including those with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or certain demographics.
If diagnosed, Medicare Part B covers 80% of treatment costs, which may include eye drops (if Part D is included), laser treatment, or surgery.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) may offer additional benefits beyond Original Medicare.
Other eye-related Medicare benefits include annual diabetic eye exams, macular degeneration treatment, and diagnostic imaging coverage.

Medicare covers glaucoma screenings every 12 months if you have a high risk of developing the condition. You’re at high risk if you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or African American or Hispanic ancestry and are over a certain age.

If you’re diagnosed with glaucoma, Medicare will also pay 80% of your treatment costs as long as you meet specific requirements. Learn more about how Medicare covers glaucoma testing and treatment below.

Setting Your Sights on Glaucoma

People with glaucoma experience high fluid pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve and causing loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma symptoms start slowly, so people often don’t realize they are losing their vision until the disease has progressed.

Without treatment, you can go entirely blind. If you catch glaucoma early enough through routine screening, treatment can slow down or prevent additional vision loss.

Glaucoma screening is especially important for Medicare beneficiaries because people 65 and older are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Estimates from the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System predict that 4.79% of people between the ages of 65 and 84 have glaucoma as of 2022. The estimate goes up to 8.41% of people 85 and over.

For reference, 0.05% of people 39 years and younger have glaucoma. Taking advantage of Medicare-covered glaucoma screenings could help preserve your vision.

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How Medicare Covers Glaucoma

Medicare covers glaucoma screenings and treatment as long as you meet specific requirements. Medicare Part B covers glaucoma screening once every 12 months if:

You have a family history of glaucoma
You have diabetes
You’re African American and over the age of 50
You’re Hispanic and over the age of 65

Here’s a closer look at how this coverage works.

Glaucoma Testing

During a glaucoma screening, an eye doctor will use eye drops to dilate your pupils so they can see your optic nerve more clearly. They will then measure your eye pressure using a special device that touches the surface of your eye.

Glaucoma Treatment

There are a few different ways to treat glaucoma, including:

Prescription eye drops that can lower the pressure in your eye
Laser treatment to help improve drainage in the eye and reduce pressure
Surgery to create a new opening in the eye or to insert a tube to help extra fluid drain and alleviate pressure

How Medicare covers glaucoma treatment depends on which treatment you receive. For example, Original Medicare does not cover prescription eye drops. You need optional Part D drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan with bundled Part D for prescription eye drop coverage.

Part A or Part B might cover laser treatment and surgery, depending on whether they’re an outpatient or inpatient procedure. Most glaucoma surgeries and laser treatments are outpatient procedures done in your doctor’s office, so you’ll likely use your Part B benefits for coverage.

How Medicare Advantage Covers Glaucoma

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, are sold by private insurance companies. At minimum, these plans provide the same benefits as Original Medicare (Parts A and B), but some may include additional benefits like vision coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D prescription drug coverage. Check individual plan details to see coverage terms and conditions.

If you’re worried about glaucoma, a Medicare Advantage plan with robust glaucoma-related benefits could be helpful, such as coverage for eye exams even if you aren’t in one of the qualifying high-risk groups. However, Medicare Advantage plan details differ by region, carrier, and more, so review plan coverage terms if a specific benefit is essential to you.

How Much Glaucoma Screening and Treatment Costs With Medicare

If you have Original Medicare, Medicare Part B covers your glaucoma screening and most treatments. There are three main costs to keep in mind:

Premium: You pay a $185 monthly fee to keep your Part B coverage active in 2025.
Deductible: Before Part B coverage starts to pay for your coverage for the year, you must pay $257 out of pocket for eligible health expenses in 2025.
Coinsurance: After you have paid your deductible for the year, Medicare Part B covers 80% of the screening and treatment costs. You are responsible for covering the remaining 20% out of pocket.

Medicare Advantage plans have their own premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates. However, these should not be higher than Original Medicare, though some Medicare Advantage plans may charge a premium on top of the standard Part B premium.

Another unique feature of Medicare Advantage is the annual out-of-pocket maximum. This is the maximum you can spend on eligible out-of-pocket healthcare costs before the insurance company covers 100% of the costs for the remainder of the year.

See It In Action

The national average cost for glaucoma laser treatments in 2024 was $332-$416 at an ambulatory surgical center or $752-$783 at a hospital outpatient department.

If you have Original Medicare and already met your deductible for the year, you would pay 20% of this cost, which comes out to $66-$83 at an ambulatory surgical center or $150-$156 at a hospital outpatient department. Medicare would cover the rest.

Note that these are example costs only and your actual costs may vary.

Other Benefits to Consider

Medicare beneficiaries have a few other eye-related benefits that might be helpful. Some of these include:

Eye exams for people with diabetes: If you have diabetes, Medicare covers an annual eye exam to check for diabetic retinopathy through a licensed eye doctor.
Macular degeneration tests and treatment: Macular degeneration is another eye disease that causes vision loss. Medicare Part B covers diagnostic tests and treatment.
Diagnostic non-laboratory tests: Sometimes, doctors use CT scans or MRIs to diagnose glaucoma. If you get these tests done at your doctor’s office or a testing facility, Medicare Part B covers it. If you get them done at a hospital, Medicare Part A will cover it. If covered by Part A, you cannot be charged more for them than your hospital stay deductible ($1,676 in 2025).

Putting It All Together

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness if you do not get treatment. Fortunately, Original Medicare covers glaucoma screening if you’re at risk and certain treatments if you have the disease.

Typically, you’ll pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. However, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may end up paying less depending on your plan’s specific benefits and terms. Consider working with a licensed insurance agent or broker to see what options are available to you.