WASHINGTON (AP) - Senior citizens at high risk for glaucoma can now have an annual dilated eye exam under improved Medicare benefits.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and affects about three million Americans - half of whom don't know they have the disease.

Officials at the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health worked with eye care organizations to push for the expanded coverage. It took effect this month.

Those at high risk include people with diabetes, those with a family history of glaucoma and blacks aged 50 and older.

Glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in blacks than whites and about four times more likely to cause blindness in blacks than in whites.

From Healthy.net