Summary & Overview
CPT 0507T: Meibomian Gland Imaging with Transillumination
CPT code 0507T represents a specialized ocular diagnostic imaging procedure that visualizes the meibomian glands using transillumination with near–infrared light and high‑resolution photography. The service includes eyelid inversion, image capture, image interpretation, and a documented report for one or both eyes. This procedure is clinically important for diagnosing and managing meibomian gland dysfunction, a common contributor to evaporative dry eye disease, and is increasingly used by ophthalmology and optometry practices nationwide.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and typical settings for the service, plus benchmarks and policy considerations where available. The publication outlines expected service components, common billing modifiers, and payer coverage patterns when documented. It also summarizes how this imaging modality fits into ocular surface disease evaluation workflows and what to expect in terms of documentation and reporting requirements.
This national summary is intended to help billing managers, compliance officers, and clinical leaders understand the purpose and billing context of CPT code 0507T, how it is used in practice, and where to focus further review for payer-specific coverage and local policy updates.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0507T describes a diagnostic imaging service that uses a specialized transilluminator and near–infrared light to visualize the meibomian glands of the eyelid. The provider inverts the eyelid, illuminates it with near–infrared light, captures high‑resolution images with a camera, interprets those images, and prepares a written report assessing one or both eyes.
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Service type: Diagnostic imaging and interpretation of the meibomian glands (ocular surface assessment)
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Typical site of service: Ophthalmology or optometry clinic, outpatient specialty clinic, or ambulatory surgical center performing diagnostic ocular imaging
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient presents to an ophthalmology clinic with chronic symptoms of ocular dryness, burning, and intermittent blurring. The patient reports morning eyelid crusting and contact lens intolerance. On exam the provider notes thickened lid margins and reduced tear breakup time, raising suspicion for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and evaporative dry eye disease. The provider performs a diagnostic meibography using a transilluminator and near‑infrared camera to image the meibomian glands of one or both eyelids, captures high‑resolution digital images, interprets gland morphology and dropout, and prepares a written report documenting findings and measurements.
Typical clinical workflow:
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The patient is checked in and medical history including dry eye symptoms and contact lens use is reviewed.
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Visual acuity and a slit‑lamp anterior segment exam are performed to assess ocular surface and eyelids.
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The provider or trained technician performs meibography using the transilluminator/camera device while the eyelid is everted; images of the upper and/or lower lids are captured and stored.
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The provider reviews the images, documents gland dropout, truncation, tortuosity, and percent area loss, and interprets findings relative to symptoms.
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A formal report is generated and included in the medical record to support management decisions such as thermal pulsation, lid hygiene, topical therapy, or further imaging.
Typical site of service: outpatient ophthalmology or optometry clinic; may also be performed in ambulatory surgery centers or multispecialty eye care centers when combined with other procedures.
Typical patient scenario: adults with suspected meibomian gland dysfunction, chronic evaporative dry eye, blepharitis, or postoperative evaluation after eyelid or ocular surface surgery.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation and report separate from technical image capture that is billed by another entity. |
TC | Technical component | Use when billing only the technical component (device operation, image acquisition) and not the professional interpretation. |
59 | Data not provided in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as described but still reportable at a reduced level. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use if the imaging was started but discontinued due to patient instability or intolerance. |
76 | Data not provided in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
77 | Data not provided in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period | Use if the patient returns to procedure room for additional imaging-related intervention during the same episode. |
80 | Assistant surgeon | Use when an assistant surgeon is required and reportable for a related surgical component. |
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct parts of a procedure and billing requires the modifier. |
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Use if the patient requires general or unusual anesthesia for imaging that normally would not require it. |
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the service requires substantially greater resources or time than typical and documentation supports additional work. |
55 | Postoperative management only | Use when only postoperative care is provided by the reporting physician after a prior procedure. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207W00000X | Ophthalmology | Eye care specialists who commonly perform and interpret meibography. |
152V00000X | Optometry | Optometrists in clinical practice who perform office‑based meibography and imaging. |
363A00000X | Ocular Surface Specialist (subspecialty within ophthalmology) | Providers focused on cornea and ocular surface disease who commonly use meibography. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
H02.89 | Other specified disorders of eyelid | Captures specified eyelid conditions such as blepharitis or lid margin disease that prompt meibography. |
H01.009 | Unspecified blepharitis, unspecified eyelid | Blepharitis often coexists with meibomian gland dysfunction and is an indication for gland imaging. |
H04.123 | Meibomian gland dysfunction of left lower eyelid | Directly identifies MGD on the affected eyelid and supports imaging and interpretation. |
H04.122 | Meibomian gland dysfunction of right lower eyelid | Used when MGD is localized to the right lower eyelid and correlates with unilateral imaging. |
H04.129 | Meibomian gland dysfunction, unspecified eyelid | General code for MGD when laterality or lid not specified; supports the medical necessity for meibography. |
H16.222 | Chronic superficial keratitis, bilateral | Ocular surface inflammation that may be associated with dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction evaluation. |
H04.121 | Meibomian gland dysfunction of right upper eyelid | Specific laterality and eyelid coding when imaging/documentation indicates upper lid involvement. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
92250 | Fundus photography with interpretation and report | Sometimes performed in conjunction for comprehensive anterior and posterior imaging; different modality but similar documentation workflow. |
92004 | Ophthalmological services: medical examination and evaluation, new patient, comprehensive, typically 60 minutes | May be performed before meibography as the comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluation that establishes indications for imaging. |
92014 | Ophthalmological services: medical examination and evaluation, established patient, comprehensive, typically 40 minutes | Often billed for follow‑up visits when meibography findings are reviewed and management modified. |
99213 | Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, low to moderate complexity | Common E/M code used when meibography is performed during an office visit with medical decision making. |
A9270 | Ophthalmic imaging, ancillary testing, not otherwise classified (sometimes used for newer or proprietary imaging devices) | May be used by some payors for ancillary technical imaging services when a specific CPT is not accepted; relates to technical capture of images. |