Silver Book Fact
A study of Medicare beneficiaries with glaucoma showed that health care costs increased with degree of vision loss–ranging from $8,157 per year for no vision loss to $18,670 for blindness.
Bramely, Thomas, Patti Peeples, John G. Walt, Marta Juhasz, and Jan E. Hansen. Impact of Vision Loss on Costs and Outcomes in Medicare Beneficiaries with Glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008; 126(6): 846-56. http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/126/6/849.pdf