Headline: CPT code 68840: Probing of the lacrimal canaliculi — brief procedure overview

Lead: CPT code 68840 covers the probing of the lacrimal canaliculi, a brief ophthalmic procedure used to diagnose or relieve obstructions in the tear drainage system. The code is relevant nationally for ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and related outpatient procedural workflows because it denotes a discrete, commonly billed intervention for epiphora (excess tearing) and canalicular obstruction.

CPT code 68840 represents a focused minor surgical procedure to probe and optionally irrigate the lacrimal canaliculi. It matters nationally as a standardized billing descriptor that affects outpatient ophthalmic procedural coding, payer coverage determinations, and encounter-level documentation. Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will learn the clinical context for use of the code, typical sites of service, common billing considerations, and where this procedure fits in outpatient ophthalmic care pathways. The summary provides benchmarks and policy-relevant points for payers and providers, and highlights areas where billing clarity, documentation, and coding consistency are commonly applied. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.