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 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.

How often it’s covered:

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

What you pay:

You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for this service — after you meet your Part B deductible ($155 in 2010).

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.