ModifiedUnitedHealthcarePolicy SRST2026T0072GG

Visual Information Processing Evaluation and Orthoptic and Vision Therapy

This policy governs coverage and evidence assessment for remote, online, digital, and in-office orthoptic/vision therapy interventions for amblyopia and related visual processing treatments, and informs benefit determination for UnitedHealthcare plans and providers.

Policy Summary

PayerUnitedHealthcare

PolicyVisual Information Processing Evaluation and Orthoptic and Vision Therapy

Policy CodePolicy SRST2026T0072GG

Change TypeCoverage rationale and coding revisions

Effective DateApr 1, 2026

Next Review Date

Key ActionVerify member benefit and obtain required prior authorization with documentation of baseline visual acuity, prior conventional therapy, prescribed regimen, and objective adherence monitoring before providing digital amblyopia therapies.

SourceLink

POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

Removed list of proven and medically necessary indications including occlusion therapy/pharmacologic penalization for amblyopia, orthoptic/vision therapy for convergence insufficiency, and prism adaptation therapy for esotropia.

Revised list of unproven and not medically necessary indications and removed several items including vision restoration therapy for post-stroke visual field deficits and visual information processing evaluation to diagnose learning disabilities.

Removed CPT codes 92065, 92066, and 92499 from Applicable Codes.

Updated Clinical Evidence and References and removed Description of Services section.

Multipleevidence sources cited

up to ~0.32reported VA gains

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0687T–0706Tlisted temporary codes

04/01/2026effective revision

Coverage Criteria for Remote / Digital Amblyopia Therapies

Remote/online/digital therapies for amblyopia — stance

Policy summary and evidence synthesis

Coverage stance for remote/online/digital amblyopia therapies: Remote, online, and/or digital therapy for Amblyopia is unproven and not medically necessary due to insufficient evidence of efficacy.

See Benefit Considerations; some UnitedHealthcare plans may expressly exclude vision therapy benefits.

Evidence summary: Limited-quality clinical evidence from RCTs and systematic reviews shows mixed results: some trials (e.g., CureSight, Xiao et al.) report VA improvements comparable to or greater than patching at short-term follow-up, while meta-analyses report high heterogeneity and no consistent superiority over patching.

Key limitations include small sample sizes, short follow-up, high dropout or low adherence in some trials, and variable study designs and devices.

Implications for coverage: Because of inconsistent evidence, study limitations, and uncertainty about durability of benefit, routine coverage is not supported except in limited, well-documented circumstances (see Coverage with criteria block).

Longer-term and larger comparative studies are needed to establish durable efficacy and equivalence or superiority to standard care.

Coverage with criteria (suggested)

Consider coverage when clinical criteria and evidence-aligned conditions are met:

Primary conditions: Patient has a clinical diagnosis of amblyopia or amblyopia-related binocular dysfunction requiring treatment.clinical diagnosis

AAO and specialty guidance recognize amblyopia as a condition warranting treatment.

Prior standard therapy: Documented trial of refractive correction and/or conventional amblyopia therapy (e.g., patching or pharmacologic penalization) unless there is a documented clinical rationale why these cannot be used.documented prior treatment or clinical rationale

AAO recommends refractive correction as the initial step and patching for moderate amblyopia.

Age and prior treatment history: Patient age and prior treatment history documented; consider that treatment may be beneficial in older children/adolescents who were not previously treated.

Not a full replacement for conventional therapy

Not supported as sole replacement when ALL of the following are present:

Limitations of evidence in the clinical scenario: High heterogeneity across studies, inconsistent effect estimates in meta-analyses, or trial populations that differ from the member being treated.study-context concern

Systematic reviews found no consistent superiority of binocular therapy over patching and highlighted heterogeneity and inconsistency across trials.

Documented or likely poor adherence: Scenarios where objective adherence is likely to be low or cannot be reliably monitored (e.g., prior history of nonadherence), given adherence has limited effectiveness in some trials (only 13% >75% adherence in one RCT).evidence of poor adherence or inability to monitor

Low adherence in RCTs was associated with reduced treatment effect and limits generalizability.

Lack of prior conventional therapy or justification:

Certain UnitedHealthcare plans exclude benefits for Vision Therapy (orthoptic training). Verify coverage by referring to the member-specific benefit plan document before providing or billing for vision therapy services.

Binocular or digital vision therapy should not be considered a proven, standalone replacement for conventional occlusion (patching) in all cases. A systematic review and meta-analysis found no significant difference in visual acuity or stereopsis between binocular treatment and patching and concluded binocular approaches cannot fully replace traditional patching; they may serve as complementary therapy in select cases.

Policy revision effective 04/01/2026 updated the Coverage Rationale. The revision removed the prior list of proven and medically necessary indications (including occlusion/pharmacologic penalization for amblyopia and orthoptic/vision therapy for convergence insufficiency) and revised the list of unproven and not medically necessary indications; see Policy History for the full list of removed items.

Remote, online, and digital therapies for amblyopia are considered unproven and not medically necessary due to insufficient evidence of efficacy. Randomized trials and systematic reviews report mixed results, heterogeneity across studies, and adherence limitations that prevent firm conclusions that these modalities provide consistent, clinically meaningful benefit compared with standard therapies.

Coverage decisions that consider digital or binocular vision therapy should require documentation of baseline refractive correction (e.g., evidence that best-corrected visual acuity was established) and objective plans for monitoring adherence and response. Trials frequently measured best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR or Snellen) and used objective device adherence data; absence of these elements limits interpretation of treatment effect.

The policy revision on 04/01/2026 also updated the unproven and not medically necessary indications. Refer to Policy History for details on items removed from the unproven/not medically necessary list, including certain vision restoration and visual information processing items.

Coding and Applicable Codes

Procedure / temporary codes referencedCPT

0687T	Treatment of amblyopia using an online digital program; device supply, educational set-up, and initial session
0688T	Treatment of amblyopia using an online digital program; assessment of patient performance and program data by physician or other qualified health care professional, with report, per calendar month
0704T	Remote treatment of amblyopia using an eye tracking device; device supply with initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment
0705T	Remote treatment of amblyopia using an eye tracking device; surveillance center technical support including data transmission with analysis, with a minimum of 18 training hours, each 30 days
0706T	Remote treatment of amblyopia using an eye tracking device; interpretation and report by physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar month

No explicit codes in this excerptmixed

No codes listed

No explicit codes in this excerptmixed

No codes listed

Removed CPT CodesCPT

92065	Removed from Applicable Codes
92066	Removed from Applicable Codes
92499	Removed from Applicable Codes

FDA device/documentation referencesmixed

K221375	CureSight FDA submission/clearance reference (Decision date 2022 Sep 29)
DEN210005	Luminopia One De Novo classification
K012530	RevitalVision 510(k) clearance

Clinical improvement thresholds reported

Range of mean VA improvement reportedTrials report amblyopic-eye visual acuity gains of ~0.07–0.18 logMAR in some studies and up to ~0.32 logMAR in select reports; e.g., Xiao et al. found a 0.10 logMAR between-group difference at 12 weeks (1.0 line) and other trials report larger within-group gains.

Responder rates (example: binocular game vs patching)Birch et al. (2020): 87.5% of children in binocular-game group improved ≥0.1 logMAR vs 50% with patching at 2 weeks; 35% of game group recovered age-normal VA (≤0.2 logMAR) at 2 weeks.

Proportion achieving small interocular differenceOne trial reported ~26% achieving ≤0.1 logMAR interocular difference (example threshold reported across studies).

Adherence influence on outcomesAdherence correlated with benefit in trials (e.g., Xiao et al. reported high adherence associated with improvement); low adherence in other RCTs limited observed effect sizes.

Provider Actions, Prior Authorization, and Documentation

Prior Authorization

Prior Authorization & Coding Verification

Prior authorization or benefit verification may be required prior to coverage. The codes listed are for reference only and do not guarantee coverage; verify member-specific benefits and any plan exclusions. Services billed using codes removed from the policy or not covered by the member's plan may be administratively denied.

Verify member-specific benefit plan and applicable state/federal mandates before providing services
Prior authorization may be required when coverage is considered — submit documentation as indicated
Listing of a code does not imply coverage or guarantee payment

Documentation Required

Documentation Required When Coverage Is Considered

If coverage is being requested (for example, under a plan that does not exclude Vision Therapy), submit required clinical documentation to support medical necessity: baseline and follow-up best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements, stereoacuity when available, description of prior standard therapies tried (refractive correction, occlusion/patching, pharmacologic penalization), dates and duration of those therapies, treatment modality proposed, objective adherence data if available, and documented clinical response.

Background and Scope

Amblyopia is decreased vision that arises from abnormal visual development in infancy and childhood and typically affects one eye more than the other. Standard, evidence-based treatments include refractive correction (the initial step) and, when indicated, occlusion therapy (patching) or pharmacologic penalization (e.g., atropine) to stimulate the amblyopic eye. Vision Therapy (VT) is an active program of supervised in-office and at-home exercises with adjunctive tools intended to improve binocular function and visual skills, but VT modalities vary and the evidence for digital or remote VT as a replacement for standard care is currently limited.

Definitions

Amblyopia definition

Pathophysiology noteOccurs when the brain receives a poor image from one eye and does not learn to see well, leading to lasting vision loss if untreated.

Typical age of onsetArises in infancy and early childhood when visual development is ongoing.

Vision Therapy definition

Core definitionVision Therapy (VT) is a program of supervised in‑office and at‑home exercises designed to develop or improve visual skills, comfort, and processing; adjunctive tools may include lenses, prisms, filters, patches, electronic targets, and balance boards.

Delivery modelTypically consists of supervised office visits with reinforced at‑home exercises performed over weeks to months.

Therapeutic goalsAims to remediate eye movements, fixation, spatial perception, accommodative efficiency, and binocular function to integrate the amblyopic eye into binocular use.

Policy Summary

PayerUnitedHealthcare

PolicyVisual Information Processing Evaluation and Orthoptic and Vision Therapy

Policy CodePolicy SRST2026T0072GG

Change TypeCoverage rationale and coding revisions

Effective DateApr 1, 2026

Next Review Date

SourceLink

On This Page

AAO notes amblyopia treatment can be effective in older children/adolescents.

Prescribed treatment plan and monitoring: Formal treatment prescription including device/therapy type, prescribed dose and frequency, objective adherence monitoring plan, and scheduled follow-up visits with planned visual acuity and stereoacuity assessments.clear plan and follow-up (e.g., baseline and 2–12 week assessments)

Prior-authorization expectations should include baseline and follow-up best-corrected VA and adherence data; RCTs used primary endpoints at 2–16 weeks or 12 weeks.

Evidence alignment: Selection of digital therapy should be supported by peer-reviewed evidence specific to the device or program when available and a plan to measure clinical response and durability of effect.device-specific evidence where possible

Some devices (e.g., CureSight, certain dichoptic therapeutics) have RCT data showing short-term benefit but require longer-term confirmation.

No documented trial of refractive correction and/or patching without acceptable clinical justification for omission—digital therapy should not replace standard first-line interventions.

documented prior conventional therapy or documented rationale

AAO guidance identifies refractive correction and patching as standard initial therapies.

Baseline and follow-up best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for amblyopic and fellow eye
Stereoacuity measurements when available
Description and dates of prior standard therapies tried (refractive correction, occlusion/patching, atropine penalization)
Objective adherence data and clinical response during prior treatments
Treatment plan specifying modality, frequency, duration, and monitoring plan

Step Therapy

Standard Therapy Precedence

Conventional, guideline-based therapies remain the primary standard of care for amblyopia and should be used before considering remote/online/digital therapies. Refractive correction is the initial step; for moderate amblyopia, patching (typically 2 hours/day) or pharmacologic penalization (e.g., weekend atropine) is the recommended first-line treatment. Digital or remote vision therapies are considered unproven by this policy and do not replace standard treatments unless a member-specific benefit and clinical rationale support use.

Initial therapy: full-time refractive correction (glasses) for eligible children
First-line follow-up therapies: occlusion (patching) or pharmacologic penalization (atropine) per AAO guidance
Digital/remote therapies should not supplant standard care; consider only after standard therapies have been applied and documented or per member benefit provisions

Denial Risk

Denial Risk and Documentation Shortfalls

Remote, online, and/or digital therapies for amblyopia are considered unproven and not medically necessary when the member's plan excludes Vision Therapy; denials may be issued for lack of sufficient independent evidence or for poor adherence leading to lack of demonstrated benefit. Short follow-up durations, absence of objective adherence monitoring, or missing documentation of prior standard therapies are common triggers for additional information requests or denial.

Denial triggers include: member plan exclusion for Vision Therapy, insufficient clinical evidence, inadequate follow-up, missing documentation of prior standard therapies, or lack of objective adherence data
Requests for additional documentation may be made when follow-up is short or safety data are limited
Use independent clinical judgment and reference member-specific benefits when determining whether to request prior authorization

Patching

DefinitionPatching (occlusion therapy) is occlusion of the better-seeing eye to stimulate the amblyopic eye and reduce suppression.

Common regimenAAO guidance: for moderate amblyopia (20/40–20/80), consider 2 hours of daily patching after refractive correction; alternative: weekend atropine penalization.

Clinical considerationsNoncompliance is a major limiter of effectiveness, particularly in older children; occlusion helps enhance neural input to the visual cortex and correct eccentric fixation.

Dichoptic / digital therapeutic

DefinitionDichoptic/digital therapeutics present different images to each eye (e.g., contrast‑rebalanced movies or games) via home‑ or clinic‑based digital platforms to promote binocular visual experience and reduce suppression of the amblyopic eye.

Typical regimen in trialsExamples include 1 hour/day, 6 days/week (Xiao et al. 2022) or 1 hour/day, 5 days/week (Birch et al. 2020) delivered at home with glasses worn full time as prescribed.

Endpoints measuredStudies measure change in amblyopic‑eye best‑corrected visual acuity (logMAR lines) at 2–12 week primary endpoints; adherence and sustained follow‑up vary across trials.

Vision Therapy (VT) / Orthoptic Therapy

DefinitionVision Therapy (VT) / Orthoptic Therapy is active therapy intended to remediate deficiencies in eye movements and fixation, spatial perception, accommodative efficiency, and binocular function to restore integrated binocular use of the amblyopic eye.

ComponentsMay include supervised exercises, lenses ('training glasses'), prisms, filters, electronic targets, and home reinforcement over weeks to months.

Clinical roleAOA and optometric guidance describe VT as targeted remediation to equalize monocular skills and facilitate binocular integration; evidence for VT varies by indication.

Occlusion Therapy

DefinitionOcclusion Therapy is patching the better eye to stimulate the amblyopic eye and reduce suppression, increasing neural input to visual cortex and addressing eccentric fixation.

PurposeUsed to force use of the amblyopic eye, improving visual acuity when refractive correction alone is insufficient.

LimitationsEffectiveness can be limited by noncompliance, which is common especially in patients over eight years of age and may lead to treatment failure.