Optometrists
What they do most for Medicare patients
| Service, sort | Times billed, sort |
|---|---|
| Destruction of growth of eyelid margin, 1.0 cm or less | 324 |
| Fitting of contact lens for management of corneal condition | 342 |
| Contact lens services for lens covering entire cornea | 389 |
| Administration of developmental test, first hour | 407 |
| Telephone medical discussion with physician, 21-30 minutes | 460 |
| Tear film imaging of one or both eyes | 492 |
| Probing of nasal tear duct | 502 |
| Other service or procedure on eye | 530 |
| Telephone medical discussion with physician, 5-10 minutes | 542 |
| Initial hospital care with straightforward or low-level medical decision making, if using time, at least 55 minutes | 558 |
| Residence visit for established patient with straightforward medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 15 minutes | 559 |
| Drainage of one eyelid glands using heat and pressure | 626 |
| Initial hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 40 minutes | 626 |
| Exam of retinal blood vessels using a special camera after injection of a dye | 650 |
| Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making, if using time, at least 35 minutes | 650 |
| Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making, if using time, at least 75 minutes | 685 |
| Complete ultrasound of within the brain blood flow | 699 |
| Ultrasound of within the brain blood flow for blood clots | 700 |
| Ultrasound of within the brain blood flow following medication | 700 |
| Removal of foreign body in cornea using slit lamp | 739 |
| Measurement of eye artery pressure | 754 |
| Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow | 821 |
| Initial nursing facility care with moderate level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 35 minutes | 839 |
| Insertion of drug delivery implant into tear duct of eye | 841 |
| Initial nursing facility care with high level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 45 minutes | 857 |
| 1d and 2d ultrasound scan of eye tissue and structures | 869 |
| Imaging of retina for disease detection, with automated review and report at point of care | 874 |
| Training for self-care or home management, each 15 minutes | 927 |
| Therapy procedure using sensory experiences | 982 |
| Removal of foreign body from external eye (conjunctiva or sclera) | 1,040 |
| Imaging of retina with remote review by physician | 1,143 |
| Residence visit for new patient with high level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 75 minutes | 1,160 |
| Removal of scars of eyelid lining due to infection | 1,227 |
| Ultrasound scan of eye using water bath method | 1,378 |
| Removal of embedded foreign body in eyelid | 1,410 |
| Near infrared dual imaging of tear glands with interpretation and report | 1,596 |
| Residence visit for established patient with low level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 30 minutes | 1,824 |
| Residence visit for established patient with high level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 60 minutes | 1,854 |
| Dilation of tear drainage opening | 2,085 |
| Residence visit for new patient with moderate level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 60 minutes | 2,100 |
| Ultrasound scan to determine eye length and lens power | 2,134 |
| Removal of foreign body from external eye (conjunctiva) | 2,442 |
| Fitting of contact lens for treatment of eye surface disease | 2,763 |
| Therapy procedure using exercise to develop strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility, each 15 minutes | 4,117 |
| Pattern recording of retinal electrical responses to external stimuli with interpretation and report | 4,119 |
| Dexamethasone, lacrimal ophthalmic insert, 0.1 mg | 4,257 |
| Subsequent nursing facility care with straightforward level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 10 minutes | 4,270 |
| Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of established patient that may not require presence of healthcare professional | 4,409 |
| Prolonged office or other outpatient evaluation and management service(s) beyond the maximum required time of the primary procedure which has been selected using total time on the date of the primary service; each additional 15 minutes by the physician or | 4,433 |
| Eye training exercise under supervision of health care professional | 4,986 |
| Therapy procedure to re-educate brain-to-nerve-to-muscle function, each 15 minutes | 5,330 |
| Subsequent nursing facility care with high level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 45 minutes | 5,417 |
| Therapy procedure using functional activities | 5,465 |
| Multiple measurements of eye fluid pressure over an extended time period | 5,963 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 60-74 minutes | 7,178 |
| Measurement of nerve conduction using visual stimulation testing with report | 7,437 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 15-29 minutes | 8,092 |
| Residence visit for established patient with moderate level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 40 minutes | 9,206 |
| Measurement of corneal pressure | 9,959 |
| Imaging of front third of eye | 10,560 |
| Eye training exercise performed by health care professional | 16,303 |
| Removal of eyelashes using forceps | 17,467 |
| Extended exam involving color vision testing | 18,525 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 40-54 minutes | 20,729 |
| Placement of amniotic membrane on eye surface for wound healing | 21,739 |
| Extended exam of the back part of the eye with retinal drawing | 22,255 |
| Exam of visual field with limited testing | 23,475 |
| Subsequent nursing facility care with moderate level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 30 minutes | 23,830 |
| Complex removal of cataract with insertion of prosthetic lens | 24,075 |
| Subsequent nursing facility care with straightforward level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 15 minutes | 27,199 |
| Evaluation of eye adaptation to light and dark with interpretation and report | 27,706 |
| Imaging of front third of eye using a special microscope | 29,384 |
| 2d ultrasound scan of eye tissue and structures | 29,987 |
| Exam to measure eye deviation and range of motion | 30,285 |
| Ct scan of cornea | 33,750 |
| Exam of visual field with intermediate testing | 38,597 |
| New patient problem focused exam of visual system | 43,876 |
| Extended exam of the back part of the eye with optic nerve drawing | 48,544 |
| Analysis of substance using immunoassay technique, multiple step method | 50,367 |
| Measurement of corneal curvature and depth of eye | 54,577 |
| Measurement of retinal and optic nerve function | 61,599 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness | 83,495 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-44 minutes | 96,657 |
| Exam of the internal drainage system of eye | 104,109 |
| Photography of content of eyes | 128,932 |
| Closure of tear duct opening using plug | 153,781 |
| Microfluid analysis of tears | 206,864 |
| Removal of recurring cataract in lens capsule using a laser | 208,280 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 45-59 minutes | 211,524 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 10-19 minutes | 257,186 |
| Exam of visual field with extended testing | 807,088 |
| Imaging of optic nerve | 817,518 |
| New patient complete exam of visual system | 837,727 |
| Established patient problem focused exam of visual system | 860,392 |
| Imaging of retina | 968,698 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes | 1,201,330 |
| Photography of the retina | 1,596,359 |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 20-29 minutes | 1,766,346 |
| Established patient complete exam of visual system | 3,461,066 |
| Removal of cataract with insertion of prosthetic lens | 4,141,711 |
Sources: Medicare Care Compare (hospitals and schools; Medicare-enrolled clinicians), CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners 2023 (services), Medicare Part D Prescribers 2024 (drugs).