Revenue Cycle Insider

Question: Does the CPT^® code set have any optometry or ophthalmology code changes in 2026?

New Mexico Subscriber

Answer: Yes, the CPT^® code set contains several code changes for ophthalmological services in 2026. Under the Other Specialized Services subsection in the Ophthalmology codes section, you’ll find a code revision and a code addition:

• Revised: 92284 (Diagnostic dark adaptation examination (eg, rod and cone sensitivities, rod-cone breakpoint), with interpretation and report)
• New: 92288 (Screening dark adaptation measurement (eg, rod recovery intercept time), with interpretation and report)

The AMA revised the code descriptor of 92284 to include “diagnostic” to specify that the dark adaptation examination is used to evaluate rod and cone sensitivities and rod-cone breakpoint.

Furthermore, three new Category III codes have been added to the 2026 CPT^® code set. These codes are:

• 0996T (Insertion and scleral fixation of a capsular bag prosthesis containing an intraocular lens prosthesis, with vitrectomy, including removal of crystalline lens or dislocated intraocular lens prosthesis, when performed)

• 1010T (Computerized ophthalmic analysis of monocular eye movements using retinal-based eye-tracking without spatial calibration, including fixation, microsaccades, drift, and horizontal saccades, when performed, unilateral or bilateral, with interpretation and report)

• 1012T (Motorized ab interno trephination of sclera (sclerostomy), or trabecular meshwork (trabeculostomy), 1 or more, including injection of antifibrotic agents, when performed)

According to CPT^® Assistant, Volume 35, Issue 11, 0996T “has been established to report the insertion and scleral fixation of a capsular bag prosthesis.” You’ll use 1010T to report computerized ophthalmic assessment of monocular eye movements using retinal-based eye tracking, but this code can be reported only once per session. CPT^® Assistant explains that 1012T “has been established to report motorized ab interno trephination of the sclera or trabecular meshwork, which requires a short incision through the limbus.”

You should refer to the parenthetical notes following 1012T for further information on how to report the procedure correctly.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC