AGS Cares

Donated glaucoma surgery and the follow-up care that goes with it, for uninsured patients who cannot afford treatment.

Best for

Someone with glaucoma who needs surgery, has no insurance, and cannot pay.

Why Kave includes this

Vision lost to glaucoma does not come back, which makes a delay here permanent in a way that most delayed care is not. This is one of very few programs covering the surgery *and* the post-operative visits, and glaucoma care without follow-up is close to useless. Kave lists it separately from cataract programs because the two do not substitute for each other.

Expected cost: Surgical and post-operative care are donated by participating glaucoma specialists.
Insurance requirement: For uninsured patients.
Who qualifies: Uninsured, income-limited, a US resident, and referred by or matched with a participating glaucoma surgeon.
Where it is available: Nationwide (United States)
How you use it: In person
Languages: English

Limitations Kave wants you to know about

Glaucoma surgery specifically — not exams, glasses, or cataract surgery.
Depends on a participating surgeon in your area.
Requires an existing glaucoma diagnosis.
Medication costs are generally not covered.

Check Eligibility

Verification

Compiled by Kave on July 1, 2026 and link-checked. Not yet independently verified. Kave assembled this from the organisation’s own published material and confirmed the links resolve. No reviewer has confirmed the eligibility details against the source, so check them on the official site before you rely on them.

Compiled: July 1, 2026 (28 days ago)
Next scheduled review: September 29, 2026
Reviewed by: Not yet reviewed

Sources used

American Glaucoma Society — AGS Cares — read July 1, 2026

Report outdated information

Kave quality score

83/100

Kave lists resources scoring 80 or above that also clear all four mandatory gates.

Patient impact23.5/25
Affordability or financial value19.2/20
Transparency12.3/15
Accessibility9.3/15
Ease of use6.2/10
Institutional credibility4.6/5
Privacy and data practices4.3/5
Geographic reach3.7/5

Geographic reach is deliberately worth only five points, so a strong local resource is not pushed out by a weak national one. Read the methodology.