Corneal Pachymetry

Number: 0681

Table Of Contents

Policy
Applicable CPT / HCPCS / ICD-10 Codes
Background
References


Policy

Scope of Policy

This Clinical Policy Bulletin addresses corneal pachymetry.

Note: For purposes of this policy, only the ultrasound method of corneal pachymetry is considered.

  1. Medical Necessity

    Aetna considers ultrasound corneal pachymetry medically necessary for the following indications:

    1. Anatomical narrow angles; or
    2. Bullous keratopathy; or
    3. Corneal edema; or
    4. Corneal refractive surgery (pre- and post-operative evaluation)Footnotes for aetna coverage plans*; or
    5. Corneal transplant (penetrating keratoplasty) (pre- and post-operative evaluation); or
    6. Evaluation of complications of corneal refractive surgery (once); or
    7. Evaluation of corneal rejection post penetrating keratoplasty; or
    8. Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy; or
    9. Persons who recently had laser iridotomy for the treatment of narrow angle glaucoma (also known as acute angle-closure glaucoma or closed-angle glaucoma); or
    10. Persons with glaucoma or glaucoma suspects (testing is considered medically necessary once per lifetime); or
    11. Posterior polymorphous dystrophy.

    Aetna considers repeat ultrasound corneal pachymetry for corneal diseases and injuries (indications D through I) not medically necessary if performed more frequently than once every 6 months.

  2. Experimental and Investigational

    Aetna considers corneal pachymetry to be of no proven value in the work-up of persons prior to cataract surgery unless corneal disease is documented. See CPB 0508 - Cataract Surgery.

    Aetna considers corneal pachymetry experimental and investigational for the following indications (not an all-inclusive list) because the effectiveness of these has not been established:

    1. As a screening test for glaucoma for persons without signs or symptoms of glaucoma or elevated intra-ocular pressure;
    2. Diagnosis of Marfan syndrome;
    3. Diagnosis or monitoring of Terrien's corneal marginal degeneration;
    4. Evaluation of granular corneal dystrophy/stromal dystrophy;
    5. Evaluation of keratoconusEvaluation of nodular episcleritis;
    6. Management of pterygium (e.g., evaluating risk of increased intra-ocular pressure following pterygium surgery);
    7. Management of pseudo-exfoliation syndrome;
    8. Monitoring of persons on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).
  3. Policy Limitations and Exclusions

    Footnotes*Note: Most Aetna benefit plans exclude coverage of refractive surgery. Please check benefit plan descriptions for details. Corneal pachymetry for evaluation of persons undergoing corneal refractive surgery is excluded from coverage under plans with these provisions.

  4. Related Policies


Table:

CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD-10 Codes

Code Code Description

Information in the [brackets] below has been added for clarification purposes.   Codes requiring a 7th character are represented by "+":

CPT codes covered if selection criteria are met:

76514 Ophthalmic ultrasound, diagnostic; corneal pachymetry, unilateral or bilateral (determination of corneal thickness)

CPT codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB:

66830 - 66984 Removal of cataract

Other CPT codes related to the CPB:

65710 - 65775 Keratoplasty
65820 Goniotomy
66761 Iridotomy/iridectomy by laser surgery (eg, for glaucoma) (per session)
92020 Gonioscopy (separate procedure)
92100 - 92130 Serial tonometry and tonography

Other HCPCS codes related to the CPB:

G0117 Glaucoma screening for high risk patients furnished by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
G0118 Glaucoma screening for high risk patients furnished under the direct supervision of an optometrist or ophthalmologist
S0800 Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)
S0810 Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
S0812 Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK)

ICD-10 codes covered if selection criteria are met:

H18.10 - H18.239 Corneal edema and bullous keratopathy
H18.51 Endothelial corneal dystrophy [Fuchs' only]
H18.59 Other hereditary corneal dystrophies [posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy]
H40.001 - H40.1394
H40.151 - H40.33x4
H40.50x0 - H42
Glaucoma
H40.40x0 - H40.43x4 Glaucoma secondary to eye inflammation
H47.231 - H47.239 Glaucomatous optic atrophy [cupping]
Q15.0 Congenital glaucoma [Buphthalmos]
T86.840 Corneal transplant rejection
Z94.7 Corneal transplant status

ICD-10 codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB [not all-inclusive]:

B50.0 - B54 Malaria
H11.001 - H11.069 Pterygium of eye
H15.121 - H15.129 Nodular episcleritis
H18.461 - H18.469 Peripheral corneal degeneration [Terrien's corneal marginal degeneration]
H18.531 - H18.539 Granular corneal dystrophy
H18.601 - H18.629 Keratoconus
H25.011 - H26.9
H28
Age-related and other cataract
H40.1410 - H40.1494 Capsular glaucoma with pseudoexfoliation of lens
M05.40 - M06.9 Rheumatoid arthritis [not covered for monitoring plaquenil]
M32.0 - M32.0 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [not covered for monitoring plaquenil]
Q12.0 Congenital cataract
Q87.40 - Q87.43 Marfan's syndrome
T37.2x1+ - T37.2x4+ Poisoning by antimalarials and drugs acting on other blood protozoa
Z13.5 Encounter for screening for eye and ear disorders

Background

Corneal pachymetry is a non-invasive ultrasonic technique for measuring corneal thickness, and has been used primarily in the evaluation of persons with corneal diseases and in the assessment of persons at risk for glaucoma.  Ultrasonic corneal pachymetry is performed by placing an ultrasonic probe on the central cornea, after the cornea has been anesthetized with a topical anesthetic.  A technician can operate the pachymeter and it normally takes less than 30 seconds per eye to complete measurements.

The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (Kass et al, 2002; Gordon et al, 2002), a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial of glaucoma treatment in persons with elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) greater than or equal to 24 mm Hg, found central corneal thickness a statistically significant predictor of development of glaucoma.  Corneal thickness was measured only after the study was initiated, and was not used to guide therapy.  For the enrolled patients, the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study results identified central corneal thickness less than 556 microns and a vertical or horizontal cup to disc ratio greater than 0.4 (vertical or horizontal) as risk factors for glaucomatous damage.

The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (Kass et al, 2002: Gordon et al, 2002) results suggested that IOP measurements need to be adjusted for abnormally thick or thin corneas.  The target IOP is lower for a thin cornea and higher for a thick cornea.  Eyes with thick corneas have a true IOP that is lower than the measured IOP.  Conversely, eyes with thin corneas have a true IOP that is greater than the measured IOP.  Thus, individuals with thicker corneas may be mis-classified as having ocular hypertension.

The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study is the first to establish corneal thickness as a risk factor for glaucoma.  However, the conclusions of OHTS are limited to persons with ocular hypertension (greater than 24 mm Hg), and do not establish the value of corneal pachymetry for screening persons without ocular hypertension.  In addition, there are no prospective clinical outcome studies demonstrating the clinical utility of corneal pachymetry in selecting patients for therapy, for guiding therapy and improving clinical outcomes.

Based on the results of this study, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern on Evaluation of the Glaucoma Suspect (2005) recommended measurement of corneal thickness with electronic pachymetry in evaluating the glaucoma suspect.

Repeat measurements of corneal thickness for glaucoma are not necessary unless the patient has corneal diseases or surgery affecting corneal thickness.  Changes in corneal thickness with age are minimal in adulthood, with estimated changes of 0.006 to 0.015 mm per decade (Doughty and Zaman, 2000).

Corneal pachymetry may be useful in assessing candidates for penetrating keratoplasty (corneal transplant), and assessing graft failure and the need for regrafting in corneal transplant recipients by aiding in the early diagnosis and treatment of graft rejection.  Corneal pachymetry may also be useful in assessing the response to treatment of corneal transplant rejection.  Corneal pachymetry has also been used to assess progression of disease in patients with certain corneal dystrophies and degenerative diseases.

Although keratoconus is associated with corneal thinning, available evidence indicates that ultrasonic corneal pachymetry is not as accurate as videokeratography in diagnosing keratoconus.  Rabinowitz et al (1998) compared the accuracy of ultrasonic pachymetry measurements and videokeratography-derived indices in distinguishing keratoconus patients from those with normal eyes.  The investigators measured corneal thickness by ultrasonic pachymetry at the center and inferior margins of the pupil of 142 normal and 99 keratoconus patients.  The corneal surface topography of patients was studied with videokeratography.  The investigators reported that the range of corneal thickness in normal and keratoconic eyes overlapped considerably.  The investigators reported that videokeratography indices provided a 97.5 % correct classification rate and pachymetry data, an 86.0 % rate (p < 0.01).  The investigators concluded that keratoconus is more accurately distinguished from the normal population by videokeratography-derived indices than by ultrasonic pachymetry measurements.  The investigators posited that this may be due to the large variation in corneal thickness in the normal population or the inability of ultrasonic pachymetry to accurately detect the location of corneal thinning in keratoconus by measuring standard points on the cornea.  The investigators concluded that pachymetry should not be relied on to exclude or diagnose keratoconus because the false-negative and false-positive rates are unacceptably higher than those obtained by videokeratography.

Sultan and colleagues (2002) examined corneal thickness, curvature, and morphology with the Orbscan Topography System I in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and studied MFS with in-vivo confocal microscopy.  This prospective, clinical, comparative case series included 60 eyes of 31 patients with MFS and 32 eyes of 17 control subjects.  First, biomicroscopic examination was conducted to search for ectopia lentis.  Then, mean keratometry and ocular refractive power were calculated by the autokeratorefractometer.  In each group, the Orbscan System I mean (and mean simulated) keratometry and pachymetric measurements (at the central location and at 8 mid-peripheral locations) were obtained and compared, and correlations were established.  In-vivo confocal microscopy was performed to evaluate tissue morphology and Z-scan analysis of 14 thin MFS corneas compared with 14 control corneas.  A significant decrease (ANOVA, p < 0.0001) of mean simulated keratometry measurement appeared in the MFS group (sim K, 40.8 +/- 1.4 D) compared with the control group (42.9 +/- 1.1 D).  Pachymetry in the MFS group was significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) compared with that in the control group, in the center (respectively, 502 +/- 41.9 microm and 552 +/- 23.6 microm) and the 8 mid-peripheral locations.  Ectopia lentis was highly linked with mean keratometry and pachymetry (p < 0.0001).  Confocal microscopy performed on MFS-affected thin corneas confirmed the corneal thinning and showed an opaque stromal matrix, and Z-scan profiles were abnormal with increased stromal back scattering of light.  The authors concluded that MFS is known to be associated with a flattened cornea.  This study demonstrated an association with corneal thinning and described confocal microscopy findings in MFS.  While the finding of this study that used the Orbscan System (a slit-scanning light method) is interesting, there is currently a lack of evidence to support the use of ultrasound pachymetry in the diagnosis of MFS.

Management of Pterygium

Neither a report on “Options and adjuvants in surgery for pterygium” by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Kaufman et al, 2013) nor an UpToDate review on “Pterygium” (Jacobs, 2020) mentions the risk of IOP spikes following surgery for pterygium.  Furthermore, there is a lack of evidence to support performing pachymetry to evaluate the risk of an increase in IOP following pterygium surgery

Management of Pseudo-Exfoliation Syndrome

Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome (PXF) is an age-related systemic syndrome that targets mainly ocular tissues through the gradual deposition of fibrillary white flaky material from the lens, mainly on the lens capsule, ciliary body, zonules, corneal endothelium, iris and pupillary margin.  There is insufficient evidence to support the use of corneal pachymetry for the management of PXF.

Alpeza-Dunato and colleagues (2011) stated that measurements of central cornea thickness (CCT) have a very important value in glaucoma patients; if the central cornea is thinner than it suggests, then the IOP is falsely low.  These researchers compared the CCT between patients with pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma (PXG; n = 34), open angle glaucoma (OAG; n = 31), angle closure glaucoma (n = 28) and control group (n = 36).  Patients in all groups and also normal subjects in control group had no other corneal disorders, no history of trauma, corneal surgery and were not patients with contacts lens use.  Patients with pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma and also patients with OAG had significantly lower values of CCT compared with normal subjects in control group.  Tomey EM 3000 is a non-contact specular microscope, which was used to measure CCT in this study.  The authors concluded that pachymetry is an important method for diagnoses of glaucoma and for examination of the IOP in glaucoma patients, because values of the CCT affect the exact IOP readings.

In a prospective, cross-sectional study, Pradhan and associates (2020) compared the corneal biomechanical parameters among PXF, PXG, and healthy controls using Corvis Scheimpflug Technology (ST).  This trial included 141 treatment-naïve eyes that underwent Corvis ST.  These included 42 eyes with PXF, 17 eyes of PXF with ocular hypertension (PXF + OHT) defined as IOP of greater than 21 mmHg without disc/field changes, 37 eyes with PXG, and 45 healthy controls.  Corneal biomechanical parameters, which included corneal velocities, length of corneal applanated surface, deformation amplitude (DA), peak distance, and radius of curvature, were compared among the groups using analysis of variance models.  The 4 groups were demographically similar.  The mean IOP was lower in the controls (15.6 ± 3 mmHg) and PXF group (16.0 ± 3 mmHg) compared to the other 2 groups (greater than 24 mmHg).  Corneal pachymetry was similar across the 4 groups.  Mean DA was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in the PXG group (0.91 ± 0.18 mm) and the PXF + OHT group (0.94 ± 0.13 mm) when compared to the PXF (1.10 ± 0.11 mm) and control groups (1.12 ± 0.14 mm).  Corneal velocities were also found to be statistically significantly lower in PXG and PXF + OHT compared to the PXF and control groups.  However, after adjusting for age and IOP, there was no difference in any of the biomechanical parameters among the 4 groups.  The authors concluded that corneal biomechanical parameters measured on Corvis ST were not different between healthy controls and eyes with PXF and PXG.  Since PXG is a high-pressure glaucoma, corneal biomechanics may not play an important role in its diagnosis and pathogenesis.

Evaluation of Nodular Episcleritis

An UpToDate review on “Episcleritis” (Dana, 2022) does not mention corneal pachymetry as a management tool.


References

The above policy is based on the following references:

  1. Alpeza-Dunato Z, Novak-Stroligo M, Kovacevic D, Caljkusic-Mance T. Corneal thickness in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. Coll Antropol. 2011;35 Suppl 2:303-304.
  2. American Academy of Ophthalmology Glaucoma Panel. Primary angle closure. Preferred Practice Pattern. San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2005.
  3. American Academy of Ophthalmology Glaucoma Panel. Primary open-angle glaucoma suspect. Preferred Practice Pattern. San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2005.
  4. American Academy of Ophthalmology Glaucoma Panel. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Preferred Practice Pattern. San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2005.
  5. American Academy of Ophthalmology Refractive Management/Intervention Panel. Refractive errors and refractive surgery. Preferred Practice Pattern. San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2007.
  6. Bayhan HA, Aslan Bayhan S, Can I. Comparison of central corneal thickness measurements with three new optical devices and a standard ultrasonic pachymeter. Int J Ophthalmol. 2014;7(2):302-308.
  7. Bechmann M, Thiel MJ, Neubauer AS, et al. Central corneal thickness measurements with retinal optical coherence tomography device versus standard ultrasonic pachymetry. Cornea. 2001;20(1):50-54.
  8. Bohm M, Shajari M, Remy M, Kohnen T. Corneal densitometry after accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking in progressive keratoconus. Int Ophthalmol. 2019;39(4):765-775. 
  9. Brandt JD, Beiser JA, Kass MA, et al. Central corneal thickness in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS). Ophthalmology. 2001;108(10):1779-1788.
  10. Brandt JD. Corneal thickness in glaucoma screening, diagnosis, and management. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2004;15(2):85-89.
  11. Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Practice guidelines for refractive surgery. Policy Statements and Guidelines. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Ophthalmological Society; June 2000.
  12. Cheng AC, Rao SK, Lau S, et al. Central corneal thickness measurements by ultrasound, Orbscan II, and Visante OCT after LASIK for myopia. J Refract Surg. 2008;24(4):361-365.
  13. Ciolino JB, Khachikian SS, Belin MW. Comparison of corneal thickness measurements by ultrasound and scheimpflug photography in eyes that have undergone laser in situ keratomileusis. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008;145(1):75-80.
  14. Dana R. Episcleritis. UpToDate [online serial]. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; reviewed May 2022.
  15. Doughty MJ, Zaman ML. Human corneal thickness and its impact on intraocular pressure measures: A review and meta-analysis approach. Surv Ophthalmol. 2000;44(5):367-408.
  16. Garcia-Medina JJ, Garcia-Medina M, Garcia-Maturana C, et al. Comparative study of central corneal thickness using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography versus ultrasound pachymetry in primary open-angle glaucoma. Cornea. 2013;32(1):9-13.
  17. Gharieb HM, Ashour DM, Saleh MI, Othman IS. Measurement of central corneal thickness using Orbscan 3, Pentacam HR and ultrasound pachymetry in normal eyes. Int Ophthalmol. 2020;40(7):1759-1764.
  18. Giraldez Fernandez MJ, Diaz Rey A, Cervino A, Yerbra-Pimentel E. A comparison of two pachymetric systems: Slit-scanning and ultrasonic. CLAO J. 2002;28(4):221-223.
  19. Gordon MO, Beiser JA, Brandt JD, et al. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: Baseline factors that predict the onset of primary open angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120(6):714-719.
  20. Jacobs DS. Open-angle glaucoma: Epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis. UpToDate [online serial], Waltham, MA: UpToDate; reviewed May 2016.
  21. Jacobs DS. Pterygium. UpToDate Inc., Waltham, MA. Last reviewed May 2020.
  22. Kass MA, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, et al. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: A randomized trial determines that topical ocular hypertensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Archiv Ophthalmol. 2002;120(6):701-713.
  23. Kaufman SC, Jacobs DS, Lee WB, et al. Options and adjuvants in surgery for pterygium: A report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2013;120(1):201-208.
  24. Khaja WA, Grover S, Kelmenson AT, et al. Comparison of central corneal thickness: Ultrasound pachymetry versus slit-lamp optical coherence tomography, specular microscopy, and Orbscan. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015;9:1065-1070.
  25. Kim JS, Rho CR, Cho YW, Shin J. Comparison of corneal thickness measurements using ultrasound pachymetry, noncontact tonopachy, Pentacam HR, and Fourier-domain OCT. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(16):e25638.
  26. Lee GA, Khaw PT, Ficker LA, Shah P. The corneal thickness and intraocular pressure story: Where are we now? Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2002;30(5):334-337.
  27. Li EY, Mohamed S, Leung CK, et al. Agreement among 3 methods to measure corneal thickness: Ultrasound pachymetry, Orbscan II, and Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Ophthalmology. 2007;114(10):1842-1827.
  28. Modis L Jr, Szalai E, Nemeth G, Berta A. Reliability of the corneal thickness measurements with the Pentacam HR imaging system and ultrasound pachymetry. Cornea. 2011;30(5):561-566.
  29. Nassiri N, Sheibani K, Safi S, et al. Central corneal thickness in highly myopic eyes: Inter-device agreement of ultrasonic pachymetry, Pentacam and Orbscan II before and after photorefractive keratectomy. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2014;9(1):14-21.
  30. Palmberg P. Answers from the ocular hypertension treatment study. Archiv Ophthalmol. 2002;120 (6):829-830.
  31. Phillips LJ, Cakanac CJ, Eger MW, Lilly ME. Central corneal thickness and measured IOP: A clinical study. Optometry. 2003;74(4):218-225.
  32. Pradhan ZS, Deshmukh S, Dixit S, et al. A comparison of the corneal biomechanics in pseudoexfoliation syndrome, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and healthy controls using Corvis® Scheimpflug technology. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68(5):787-792.
  33. Rabinowitz YS, Rasheed K, Yang H, Elashoff J. Accuracy of ultrasonic pachymetry and videokeratography in detecting keratoconus. J Cataract Refract Surg. 1998;24(2):196-201.
  34. Rainer G, Petternel V, Findl O, et al. Comparison of ultrasound pachymetry and partial coherence interferometry in the measurement of central corneal thickness. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2002;28(12):2142-2145.
  35. Reinstein DZ, Silverman RH, Raevsky T, et al. Arc-scanning very high-frequency digital ultrasound for 3D pachymetric mapping of the corneal epithelium and stroma in laser in situ keratomileusis. J Refract Surg. 2000;16(4):414-430.
  36. Sadoughi MM, Einollahi B, Einollahi N, et al. Measurement of central corneal thickness using ultrasound pachymetry and Orbscan II in normal eyes. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2015;10(1):4-9.
  37. Schiano Lomoriello D, Lombardo M, et al. Repeatability of intra-ocular pressure and central corneal thickness measurements provided by a non-contact method of tonometry and pachymetry. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011;249(3):429-434.
  38. Shajari M, Jaffary I, Herrmann K, et al. Early tomographic changes in the eyes of patients with keratoconus. J Refract Surg. 2018;34(4):254-259.
  39. Shih CY, Graff Zivin JS, Trokel SL, Tsai JC. Clinical significance of central corneal thickness in the management of glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:1270-1275.
  40. Singh RP, Goldberg I, Graham SL, et al. Central corneal thickness, tonometry and ocular dimensions in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. J Glaucoma. 2001;10(3):206-210.
  41. Sultan G, Baudouin C, Auzerie O, et al. Cornea in Marfan disease: Orbscan and in vivo confocal microscopy analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002;43(6):1757-1764.
  42. Taravella M, Walker M. Corneal edema, postoperative. eMedicine Ophthalmology Topic 64. Omaha, NE: eMedicine.com; updated September 19, 2001.
  43. Vonor K, Amedome KM, Santos MAK, et al. Accuracy of optical coherence tomography versus ultrasound in pachymetry. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2021;44(7):1047-1051.
  44. Weissman BA, Yeung KK. Keratoconus. eMedicine Ophthalmology Topic 104. Omaha, NE: eMedicine.com; updated January 29, 2005. 
  45. Whitacre MM, Stein RA, Hassanein K. The effect of corneal thickness on applanation tonometry. Am J Ophthalmol. 1993;115:592-596.
  46. Wu W, Wang Y, Xu L. Meta-analysis of Pentacam vs. ultrasound pachymetry in central corneal thickness measurement in normal, post-LASIK or PRK, and keratoconic or keratoconus-suspect eyes. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2014;252(1):91-99.