CPT code 65420 represents surgical excision or transposition of a pterygium without graft placement. This ophthalmic operation is performed to restore ocular surface anatomy, reduce irritation, and improve visual function when a pterygium encroaches on the cornea. The code matters nationally because pterygium surgery is a common outpatient ophthalmic procedure with implications for facility use, surgical practice patterns, and payer coverage policies.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing context for CPT code 65420, including service type and typical sites of service. The publication outlines benchmarks and reimbursement considerations, summarizes common clinical scenarios prompting use of the code, and highlights relevant policy updates and coding guidance where available. Where input data is incomplete, the summary notes the absence of specific items such as associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, or related codes.

This resource is designed for billing professionals, ophthalmology providers, and policy analysts who need a clear, national-level summary of CPT code 65420, its clinical purpose, and the payer landscape that commonly covers the service.