Did you know that half of all people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it? At first, glaucoma symptoms can start so slowly you might not notice them. However, glaucoma can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging the optic nerve.
The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a painless glaucoma screening, which checks your optic nerve health and vision. Medicare covers a glaucoma screening once every 12 months if you’re at high risk.
Medicare considers you at high risk if at least one of the following is true:
- You have diabetes
- You have a family history of glaucoma
- You’re African American and 50 or older
- You’re Hispanic and 65 or older
Talk to your doctor to check if a glaucoma screening is right for you. Early treatment can often stop further damage and protect your eyes from serious vision loss. Learn more about glaucoma from the National Eye Institute.
