Descemet's stripping, endothelial keratoplasty and deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty involve the stripping of diseased corneal endothelium and the placement of intraocular endothelium harvested from a donor.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the physician work allowance for each of the three penetrating keratoplasty codes is similar to endothelial keratoplasty.
Until a Category I CPT code is established to describe this procedure, please submit the following effective August 1, 2007:
CPT code 66999 (unlisted procedure, anterior segment of the eye)
- Enter into the narrative field: 'Endothelial transplant' followed by the appropriate crosswalk (CPT code 65730, 65750, 65755) based on the patient's lens status
- Example: 'Endothelial transplant - 65750'
If the surgeon performs an endothelial transplant service and harvests the endothelial tissue from a donor eye, submit the following information:
CPT code 66999 (unlisted procedure, anterior segment of the eye)
- Enter into the narrative field: 'Endothelial harvest - transplant' followed by the appropriate crosswalk (CPT code 65730, 65750, 65755) based on the patient's lens status
- Example: 'Endothelial harvest transplant - 65750'