Reader Question:
Code EO to Evaluate Flashers and Floaters
Published on Fri Nov 27, 2009
Question: A patient reports flashes and floaters but the ophthalmologist does not find evidence of retinal pathology on routine ophthalmoscopy. Are we justified in billing for extended ophthalmoscopy (EO)? Kansas Subscriber Answer: If the ophthalmoscopy is a routine part of a patient's eye exam, do not bill for it separately. However, complaints of flashers and floaters are always serious and must be evaluated carefully; often, these symptoms will justify extended ophthalmoscopy (92225, Ophthalmoscopy, extended, with retinal drawing [e.g., for retinal detachment, melanoma], with interpretation and report; initial). Use 92225 to report a Goldmann-3 exam (examining the retina with a three-mirror goniolens). Remember to keep your interpretation and report of the findings in the patient's medical record. In many cases in which flashers and floaters are present, extended ophthalmoscopy (EO) combined with a retinal exam shows vitreous degeneration or posterior vitreous detachment (379.21, Vitreous degeneration). If an ophthalmologist does not see [...]
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