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The procedure described by CPT® Code 67031 involves the severing of vitreous strands, vitreous face adhesions, sheets, membranes, or opacities through laser surgery, which may be performed in one or more stages. The vitreous is a gel-like substance that fills the eye and is crucial for maintaining its shape. As individuals age, the vitreous can undergo degeneration, leading to dehydration and the formation of clumps known as vitreous densities. These densities can cast shadows on the sensory retina, resulting in visual disturbances commonly referred to as 'floaters' or dark shadowy areas in the visual field. In addition to age-related changes, vitreous densities may arise from various pathological conditions, including retinal tears, hemorrhage, inflammation, infections, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. The procedure utilizes a neodymium YAG laser to perform vitriolysis, effectively targeting and vaporizing the strands or areas of density. This is typically conducted in a physician's office setting, where the patient is seated in front of a slit lamp. A specialized contact lens is employed to stabilize the eye during the procedure, allowing for precise targeting of the laser beam. The concentrated energy from the laser vaporizes the vitreous material, converting it into gas microbubbles that are subsequently absorbed by the body, leading to a resolution of the visual disturbances within a few hours post-procedure.
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The procedure described by CPT® Code 67031 is indicated for the treatment of various conditions associated with vitreous densities and related visual disturbances. The following are the explicitly provided indications for performing this procedure:
The procedure for CPT® Code 67031 involves several key steps that ensure effective treatment of vitreous densities. Each step is crucial for the successful outcome of the procedure:
Post-procedure care for CPT® Code 67031 involves monitoring the patient for any immediate side effects or complications following the laser treatment. Patients are typically advised to rest their eyes and avoid strenuous activities for a short period. It is common for patients to experience some transient visual disturbances as the gas microbubbles dissipate, but these should resolve within a few hours. Follow-up appointments are essential to evaluate the success of the procedure and to ensure that any remaining vitreous densities are addressed if necessary. Patients should be instructed to report any unusual symptoms, such as increased floaters, flashes of light, or changes in vision, to their healthcare provider promptly.
| Short Descr | LASER SURGERY EYE STRANDS | Medium Descr | SEVERING VITREOUS STRANS LASER 1/> STAGES | Long Descr | Severing of vitreous strands, vitreous face adhesions, sheets, membranes or opacities, laser surgery (1 or more stages) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies | ASC Payment Indicator | Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P4E - Eye procedure - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 20 - Other intraocular therapeutic procedures |
| RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | 50 | Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 54 | Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number. | 55 | Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number. | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | E1 | Upper left, eyelid | E3 | Upper right, eyelid | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition |
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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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