Glaucoma awareness

Nearly 3 million Americans have glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Glaucoma often progresses slowly and without symptoms, and many people have it and do not know it. By the time the problem is noticed, permanent damage may have occurred. Early detection and treatment may prevent blindness.

Medicare provides coverage of an annual glaucoma screening for beneficiaries in at least on of the following high-risk groups:

• Those with diabetes mellitus
• Those with a family history of glaucoma
• African-Americans age 50 and older
• Hispanic-Americans age 65 and older

A covered glaucoma screening includes:

• dilated eye examination with Intraocular Pressure (IOP) measurement
• direct ophthalmoscopy examination or a slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination

For more information about glaucoma screening visit:

• Glaucoma Screening (CMS)
• Prevent Blindness America