Published in Non-Clinical

A Guide to Billing for Medically Necessary Contact Lenses

This is editorially independent content
8 min read
Navigating vision insurance plans and billing codes can be a headache, but armed with the right knowledge, you can make a massive impact on patient lives.
A Guide to Billing for Medically Necessary Contact Lenses
Editor's note: This article was originally published in March of 2019, but has been updated for 2022.

Key points:

  • Medically necessary contact lenses can be soft (such as disposable or extended wear), hybrid (such as rigid gas permeable with a soft lens skirt) or hard (rigid gas permeable or scleral) contact lenses
  • Be sure to understand the specific requirements for each managed vision plan
  • When billing for medically necessary contact lenses, CPT codes 92071, 92072 and 92313 are not meant to be used simultaneously: it’s one or the other
An estimated 45 million Americans wear contact lenses with the most common reason being for nearsightedness. Contact lenses are worn to replace glasses wear but are more than a means for cosmetic correction—they are recognized as a medical device by the FDA. When it comes to irregular corneas or high refractive error, glasses and corrective surgery are not always an option, and medically necessary contact lenses come into play.
Medically necessary contact lenses are not elective and are often the only treatment option that provides optimal vision for patients with ocular conditions such as keratoconus or systemic conditions that cause severe dry eye like Sjogren’s Syndrome. Contact lenses can improve visual acuity and reduce visual distortion in ways glasses cannot and ultimately improve your patient’s quality of life.

What are medically necessary contact lenses?

Currently, there is not a universal definition of what constitutes medically necessary contact lenses as many lens types can be considered medically necessary. Medically necessary contact lenses can range from soft contact lenses (including disposable lenses or extended wear lenses) to hard lenses (including rigid gas permeables or scleral lenses). Hybrid contact lenses, which consist of rigid gas permeables with a soft lens skirt, can also be a treatment of choice for vision correction. Medically necessary contact lenses do not always require a specialty fit and can be as simple as spherical soft contact lenses.
Each vision and health plan defines medically necessary contact lenses with a different set of parameters and medical diagnoses. By using your clinical judgment and the proper diagnosis, you can select patients who will benefit from medically necessary contact lenses and improve the quality of care you’re able to provide them. This guide is designed to help you maneuver through vision insurance plans, learn which plans provide what coverage, and get a basic understanding of the procedural codes used for billing.

Vision Insurance Plans

EyeMed

A unique aspect of EyeMed is that vision improvement with contact lenses, even without a medical diagnosis, can be considered medically necessary without a refractive error requirement.

Covered conditions

  • Anisometropia exceeding 3D in meridian powers
  • High ametropia exceeding -10D or +10D spherical equivalent in one or both eyes
  • Keratoconus where the patient is not correctable to 20/25 in either or both eyes in standard spectacle correction
    • Patients are classified as either:
      • Emerging/Mild
      • Moderate/Severe
  • Vision Improvement for patients whose vision can be corrected two lines of improvement on the visual acuity chart when compared to best corrected standard spectacle lenses

Davis Vision

On the other hand, Davis Vision requires that contact lenses must improve visual acuity by two lines AND meet a refractive error requirement.

Covered conditions

  • Anisometropia exceeding 3D in meridian powers
  • High ametropia exceeding -8.00D or +8.00D spherical equivalent in one or both eyes based on the spectacle prescription
    • AND spectacle best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 of worse in either eye
    • AND visual acuity improvement of 2 lines or more with contact lenses
  • Keratoconus
  • Aphakia
  • Aniridia
  • Irregular Astigmatism of 2 diopters of astigmatism in either eye, with principal meridian separated by less than 90 degrees.

Superior Vision

Compared to other vision insurance plans, Superior Vision does not constitute high ametropia alone as a requirement for medically necessary contact lenses.

Covered conditions

  • Anisometropia of 4.0D or more, provided visual acuity improves to 20/60 or better in the weaker eye.
  • Keratoconus
  • Aphakia (after cataract surgery) A pair of single vision lenses or multifocal lenses and frames can be provided with the contact lenses.
  • Vision Improvement when visual acuity cannot be corrected to 20/70 in the better eye except through the use of contact lenses (must be 20/60 or better)

VSP

Irregular Astigmatism billed as the primary medical diagnosis does not qualify as medically necessary under VSP. Irregular Astigmatism is considered a condition caused by an underlying disorder such as keratoconus.

Covered conditions

  • Anisometropia exceeding 3D meridian power based on the spectacle prescription
  • High ametropia exceeding ±10.00 in one or both eyes based on the spectacle prescription
  • Aphakia
  • Keratoconus
  • Nystagmus
  • Hereditary Corneal Dystrophies
Colored contact lenses for the following conditions are also a covered benefit:
  • Achromatopsia
  • Aniridia
  • Albinism
  • Congenital anisocoria
  • Pupil abnormalities
Contacts with spectacle lenses to wear over contacts for the following conditions are a covered benefit as well:

Medicare

Medicare helps pay for either one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames or one set of contact lenses. This only applies to Medicare Part B for one-time use for the following:
  • Pseudophakia
Working with a variety of vision insurance plans will require proper credentialing for each. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Optometry Credentialing!
General Billing and Coding
Once you’ve determined the patient qualifies for medically necessary contact lenses, you must select the proper code for the contact lens they are being fitted for.

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)

92310Corneal Lens, Both Eyes, Except for Aphakia
92311Corneal Lens for Aphakia, One Eye
92312Corneal Lens for Aphakia, Both Eyes
92313Corneoscleral Lens
92071Contact Lens for Treatment of Ocular Surface Disease
92072Contact Lens for Management of Keratoconus
NOTE: CPT code 92071 and 92072 are not meant to be used simultaneously, it’s one or the other

Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)

V2510Contact Lens, GP, Spherical
V2511Contact Lens, GP, Toric
V2512Contact Lens, GP, Bifocal
V2513Contact Lens, GP, Extended Wear
V2520Contact Lens, Hydrophilic, Spherical
V2521Contact Lens, Hydrophilic, Toric
V2522Contact Lens, Hydrophilic, Bifocal
V2523Contact Lens, Hydrophilic, Extended Wear
V2531Contact Lens, GP, Scleral
V2627Scleral Cover Shell
V2599Contact Lens, Other Type (Hybrid, Hand Painted Prosthetics)
With the proper testing, diagnosis, and billing codes, your role as an eyecare provider can transform the lives of your patients. For patients with underlying ocular conditions that impact vision, contact lenses are much more than a cosmetic choice—they are a necessary treatment option that meets their visual needs and provides the comfort and confidence to complete day to day tasks and enjoy leisure activities.
It is vital as an eyecare provider that you diligently screen patients and fit contact lenses as medical devices. Educate your patients on why a medical device is covered through their vision plan and provide the options that are available to them. Though it is important to note that a “medical diagnosis” is not always required—it can be as simple as anisometropia to qualify for contact lens correction in a medical capacity. With word of mouth being the biggest source of referral, this will not only promote your practice, but it will also raise awareness to the masses that optometry has a role in medical care and can provide treatments that can have a lasting impact.
Eyes On Eyecare has partnered with EyeCode Education to bring our members the best in coding and billing education!
Yasmeen Lakhani, OD
About Yasmeen Lakhani, OD

Yasmeen Lakhani received her Doctorate of Optometry from Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. She is passionate about family eye care and building strong relationships with her patients and colleagues to promote optometry. She is currently practicing at a private practice in Los Angeles, California.

Yasmeen Lakhani, OD
Christopher Wolfe, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO
About Christopher Wolfe, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO

Dr. Christopher Wolfe is a graduate of Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. While in school, he served as president of the American Optometric Student Association, where he represented over 6,000 members. He is currently the Chair of the American Optometric Association’s State Government Relations Committee and the Legislative Chair for the Nebraska Optometric Association. In 2013 and 2015 he was awarded Young Optometrist of the Year for the Nebraska Optometric Association. In 2016 he was awarded the Optometrist of the Year for the Nebraska Optometric Association and the Young Optometrist of the Year for the American Optometric Association. In 2014 he was awarded Political Keyperson of the Year for the Nebraska Optometric Association and Alumni of the Year from Skutt Catholic High School.

Dr. Wolfe has a passion for education. He is a co-founder of KMK Board Certification Review Services, a company specializing in preparing Doctors of Optometry to take the American Board of Optometry examination. He is the founder of EyeCode Education, a company specializing in clinical and billing education. Dr. Wolfe is a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. He also has special interests in therapeutic scleral contact lenses to correct visual distortions in patients with corneal diseases. Dr. Wolfe is an avid runner and most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife Jaime, daughters Ryan, Paityn, Camryn, Logan, Maisyn and sons Lincoln, Deacon, and Benton.

Christopher Wolfe, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO
💙 Our Sponsors
EssilorLuxottica LogoJohnson & Johnson Vision Logo