Medicare covers glaucoma screening under Part B. For Medicare to cover it, the screening needs to be done or supervised by a doctor who is legally qualified and who accepts Medicare.

Glaucoma is not one disease but a group of eye conditions that can lead to blindness.

Glaucoma symptoms progress slowly and are often so mild at first that you may not know you have it. Once glaucoma is diagnosed, there are effective treatment options — and that’s why glaucoma screening is so important.

If you’re on Medicare, you’re generally covered for glaucoma screening. But you must follow several important rules to make sure your exam qualifies for coverage.

Read on to discover more about glaucoma screening and what Medicare covers.

Glaucoma coverage varies based on the Medicare part or plan that you have. The main components of Medicare are Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, collectively called Original Medicare.

Part A typically covers expenses related to inpatient hospital visits, like surgery. Part B covers outpatient care, such as doctor’s visits, screenings, and routine care.

This means that Part B is typically responsible for covering glaucoma screening. You can get one every 12 months if you’re considered high risk.

You’re considered high risk if one or more of the following applies to you:

  • You’ve been diagnosed with diabetes.
  • You have a family history of glaucoma.
  • You’re Black and age 50 or older.
  • You’re Hispanic and age 65 or older.

Note that for Medicare to cover your glaucoma screening, it must be done (or supervised) by a doctor legally qualified to conduct glaucoma tests in your state. The provider must also accept Medicare.

If you’re diagnosed with glaucoma, you may need to undergo a laser procedure or eye surgery. These are usually outpatient procedures and should be covered under Part B.

If you need to be hospitalized (inpatient), Part A coverage will apply, though this doesn’t happen often with glaucoma.

Does Medicare cover glaucoma eye drops?

Medicare Part D is insurance for prescription medications. Part D typically covers eye drops to treat glaucoma, but the exact cost and offerings of covered medications depend on which prescription drugs your plan covers.

You can find these medications on your plan’s formulary, or list of covered prescription drugs.

In addition to Original Medicare, you have the option to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Medicare Part C). These are private insurance plans that cover all the same services included in Original Medicare. They also include extra benefits and drug coverage if you choose.

Because Medicare Advantage plans must provide the same level of coverage as Original Medicare, these plans also cover glaucoma screenings.

You can use the Medicare plan finder tool to see which Medicare Advantage plans are available in your area, what they cost, and what they cover.

The average annual cost of treating glaucoma after Medicare kicks in $543 out of pocket.

That said, speak with your doctor or a Medicare specialist to find out your exact expected costs of a specific test or service. The cost may depend on:

  • any other insurance you might have
  • how much your doctor charges
  • whether your doctor offers the service
  • where (including the type of facility) you get the test or service

Original Medicare

Original Medicare‘s Part B covers 80% of the Medicare-approved cost for glaucoma screenings. This means that after you meet your Part B deductible of $257 in 2025, you’ll be responsible for paying 20% of the cost in coinsurance. To keep your coverage, you’ll also have to pay a monthly premium for Part B, which is $185 in 2025.

For surgery covered by Part A, you’ll need to meet a deductible of $1676, and in most cases, you won’t have a premium. After meeting your deductible, Part A will cover your hospital stay and any necessary rehabilitation services after surgery. While this is less common for short-term procedures, if your hospital stay extends beyond 60 days, you’ll start to incur additional daily charges.

Part D and Medicare Advantage

Part D plans and Medicare Advantage are offered by private insurance companies, and your costs will depend on your plan. According to the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare (CMS), the average monthly premium for Part C plans is around $17.00 in 2025.

Specifically for Part D, how much you’ll pay out of pocket for medications depends on the plan’s formulary and tier in which your plan classifies the drug.

Generally, the higher the tier, the pricier the drug. However, no Part D plan can have a deductible more than $590 in 2025, and you won’t pay more than $2,000 a year on drugs. In 2026, these caps are expected to increase to a maximum deductible of $615 and a maximum out-of-pocket expense of $2,100.

Medigap

If you have Original Medicare, you can consider enrolling in a Medigap plan to cover gaps in your Medicare coverage, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Depending on the state you live in, you may choose from among up to 10 standard Medigap plans.

It’s important to note that you may not purchase both Medicare Advantage and Medigap. If you want this coverage, you’ll need to choose one or the other.

You can use the Medicare plan finder tool to see what Medigap plans cost in your area.

Aside from glaucoma, other chronic eye conditions you get screened and treated for with Medicare include:

  • cataracts
  • age-related macular degeneration
  • vision problems related to diabetes

If you have a chronic eye condition, Medicare may cover:

  • surgery and other procedures that help repair eye function
  • a standard pair of untinted prescription glasses or contact lenses if you receive an intraocular lens after cataract surgery. If necessary, the plan might also pay for custom glasses or contact lenses.
  • an eye exam to determine whether your vision problems indicate a more serious condition

That said, the exact benefits depend on the condition. If you don’t have a chronic eye condition, Original Medicare (parts A and B) and Medigap plans don’t cover routine services for eye care, including eye exams and prescription glasses or contact lenses for vision.

Some Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, may cover routine vision exams, glasses, and contact lenses. That said, depending on the type of plan, you may need to see an optometrist instead of an ophthalmologist.

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease that could result in blindness. Medicare usually covers services for glaucoma, including screenings through Part B plans.

Medicare Advantage plans generally cover glaucoma screenings when performed by authorized doctors, but you may have copays or coinsurance.