Does Medicare Cover Vision Care?
Original Medicare does not cover routine eye exams for glasses or contact lenses, and it does not pay for most eyeglasses. It does cover medically necessary eye care: cataract surgery (and one pair of corrective glasses or contacts afterward), yearly glaucoma screenings for people at high risk, and diabetic retinopathy exams. Many Medicare Advantage plans add routine vision benefits.
What Original Medicare does cover
- Cataract surgery, plus one pair of standard eyeglasses or contacts afterward.
- Glaucoma screening once a year for people at high risk.
- Diabetic retinopathy screening once a year for people with diabetes.
- Tests and treatment for certain eye diseases and conditions.
What is not covered
Routine eye exams to update your glasses prescription, eyeglasses, and contact lenses are generally not covered by Original Medicare. For routine vision care, consider a Medicare Advantage plan that includes vision, or a stand-alone vision plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare pay for glasses after cataract surgery?
Yes. After cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens, Part B helps pay for one pair of standard eyeglasses or one set of contact lenses from a Medicare-enrolled supplier.
Does Medicare cover routine eye exams?
Original Medicare does not cover routine eye exams for glasses. Many Medicare Advantage plans include a routine eye exam benefit — check the specific plan.
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Medicare Login Guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. This article is for general information only — confirm current figures and your specific options at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.