Question: South Carolina Subscriber Answer: Without the modifier, the insurer will assume that the visit was related to the surgery, no matter what diagnosis you report, since the patient is still technically within the postoperative care period of the cataract surgery. You may need to submit documentation showing that you were investigating an unrelated problem. Modifiers 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) and 57 (Decision for surgery) would not be appropriate in this case. Modifier 79 (Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period) is usually appended to surgery or procedure CPT® codes, not E/M or examination codes.