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Writer's pictureDr. Ryan Corte

Medicare Eye Exams in North Carolina: What You Need to Know!

Updated: Jun 22, 2023


Are you looking for an eye doctor that accepts Medicare in Charlotte or Asheville, NC?

If so, look no further!

At Northlake Eye, we proudly accept Medicare! In fact, we accept a variety of vision AND medical insurances (you can see a full list here). Here are the most frequently asked questions we receive about Medicare.


IMPORTANT - Please ring an active Medicare card to your exam.

Does Medicare cover routine eye exams and glasses?

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover vision exams and glasses for adults. However, there is good news! You can still be seen by Medicare eye care providers for medical eye exams. This includes conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, allergies, dry eye, pink eye, headaches, eye strain, and much more!

Note: Patients with Medicare have a small deductible that needs to be met before being covered for medical eye exams. This is usually reached after 1 or 2 office visits with a medical doctor.

At our office, we provide medical eye care for a lot of patients with Medicare. In fact, if they decided they want a glasses prescription during their medical visit, we only charge them a small refraction fee to provide this valuable service.

Does Medicare cover contact lenses?

Medicare does not cover contact lens materials or evaluation fees. As a result, if you have Medicare and want to wear contact lenses, this would be an out of pocket cost.

Fortunately for you, our office provides contact lens evaluations at a very economical price. Also, we carry only the safest contact lenses available, most of which will not break the bank to wear!

Does Medicare cover eye exams for cataracts?

Yes, Medicare does cover a medical visit to evaluate cataracts.

Does Medicare cover cataract surgery?

Medicare will cover a large portion of the surgery. If you have supplemental insurance, they typically pick up the remaining amount.


Does Medicare pay for glasses after cataract surgery?

Medicare does cover a portion of glasses after cataract surgery. At Northlake Eye, we will see you one week after your surgery date and then one month after surgery to evaluate the need for glasses.

Does Medicare cover glaucoma testing?

Yes, Medicare does cover glaucoma testing. Typically a variety of tests are completed to determine if glaucoma is the correct diagnosis.

Does Medicare cover diabetic eye exams?

Medicare covers 80% of a diabetic eye exam to evaluate the health of the eyes and the doctors also provide a letter to your primary care physician regarding the results. If you have supplemental insurance, most of it will cover the remaining 20%.

Does Medicare pay for eyeglasses for diabetics?

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover glasses for patients with diabetes.

Does Medicare cover LASIK eye surgery?

It probably comes as no surprise that Medicare does not cover LASIK eye surgery. In fact, to my knowledge, there are not any vision or medical insurances out there that cover LASIK. Why? LASIK is considered an "elective or cosmetic surgery", like getting a nose job or liposuction. You can learn more about LASIK and PRK here!

Interested in scheduling an eye exam with one of our optometrists? Give us a call or simply schedule online: Northlake Mall | Concord Mills | Biltmore Park | Asheville Mall


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