Ophthalmic Coding Specialist Practice Test

The removal of an intralenticular foreign body is performed without lens extraction. Which code is applicable?

1. 66850

2. 66984

3. 65235

4. 66987

The correct answer is: 65235

The procedure describes the removal of an intralenticular foreign body without the need for lens extraction. In coding for ophthalmic procedures, it's essential to select the code that accurately represents the specifics of the surgical intervention performed. The code that corresponds to the removal of a foreign body from the anterior or posterior segment of the eye, specifically from within the lens capsule, is indeed recognized under the code 65235. This code is designated for the removal of a foreign body from the eye, and in this context, it implies that the intraocular procedure involves the lens, but crucially, it excludes the extraction of the lens itself. In contrast, other options involve different scenarios. For instance, code 66850 pertains to the removal of a foreign body from the lens with lens extraction, which is not applicable here since the lens is not being removed. Codes 66984 and 66987 relate to cataract surgery procedures that involve lens replacement or insertion of an intraocular lens, which again do not match the described situation. Thus, the appropriate code for this specific procedure aligns with the tasks involved, confirming the selection of the code related to foreign body removal from the eye while preserving the lens integrity.