Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Question: How should we code for a visual field test done on one eye?

Anonymous Kentucky Subscriber

Answer: The code is 92081 (limited examination), 92082 (intermediate examination), or 92083 (extended examination). There are no modifiers necessary. The visual field examination codes are defined in CPT as unilateral or bilateral. That means one unit is for one or both eyes. The payment is the same whether one or both eyes are done except in Medicare jurisdictions where there happen to be long-standing policies of requiring the left and right eye modifier (-LT or -RT) to be used with the modifier -52 (reduced services) when only one is examined. These carriers are in the minority and pay half the Medicare fee schedule amount for one eye.