If you have diabetes, Medicare will cover one annual eye exam from an authorized doctor in your state for conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
If you’re living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may have a risk of developing eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. These can lead to problems seeing and, in some cases, vision loss.
Appropriate care and management can often help prevent vision loss. Regular screening is important, which is why Original Medicare’s Part B covers an annual eye exam for these conditions.
Read to learn more about your eligibility for coverage of this test, the cost, and other important information about the screening.
Typically, Original Medicare doesn’t cover eye exams needed to determine whether you need prescription glasses, as these aren’t considered preventive.
But Medicare does consider testing for diabetic retinopathy or other diabetes-related vision conditions, such as glaucoma, as preventive.
For this reason, Medicare covers the screening annually for people living with diabetes. This is in line with the
Learn more: Does Medicare cover eye exams?
If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, your out-of-pocket cost for a diabetic eye screening will include the monthly premium, which, in 2025, is $185.
In addition, you may need to reach your $257 deductible. Once you do, Medicare will pay 80% of the cost of the screening, and you’ll pay the remaining 20%. You may be able to use a Medigap plan to pay for some of the remaining costs.
Plus, if you’re covered by Medicare Advantage, you should receive the same coverage as under Original Medicare, but your costs may vary depending on your plan. Also, you might not be able to use Medigap with Medicare Advantage.
To receive screening for diabetic retinopathy under Medicare, you need to have a diagnosis of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The doctor examining you also needs to accept Medicare. You can find clinicians in your area by searching on Medicare.gov.
To receive glaucoma screening, there are similar requirements. Plus, you also need to meet the
- You have someone in your family who has or has had glaucoma.
- You are African American over the age of 50.
- You are Hispanic or Latino over the age of 65.
Learn more about the risk factors for glaucoma and glaucoma screenings under Medicare.
If you’re living with diabetes and are covered under Medicare, it’s important not to wait for eye symptoms to show up before you get screened. If you have a risk of developing diabetes-related eye problems, getting screened annually can help you prevent or postpone symptom onset.
It’s still important to watch out for signs that your diabetes is affecting your vision. These include:
- blurred vision
- fluctuating vision
- eye floaters
- dark or empty areas in your field of vision
- vision loss
- difficulty with night vision
- changes in how you see colors
- light sensitivity
In addition, if you get prescription glasses or contacts but your vision doesn’t improve, this could mean that something else might be causing your vision problems.
Learn more: All about eye health.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s important to know that there may be a risk of developing eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Part B of Original Medicare includes coverage for an annual eye exam specifically designed to screen for these conditions. These conditions can affect your vision and, in serious cases, even cause loss of sight.