65436 Curette/treat cornea
Also known as: corneal debridement deep, therapeutic keratectomy
Scraping of cornea, therapeutic; penetrating.
In Plain Language
removing deeper corneal tissue to treat disease; deep therapeutic scraping of cornea
Clinical Context
Deeper therapeutic scraping for corneal dystrophy, scarring, or significant erosion. May extend into Bowman layer or anterior stroma.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 4.70 |
| Total RVU | 4.70 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. This code has a 90-day global period, which includes the day of the procedure, 1 day preoperative, and 90 days of postoperative care. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 4.70, this code ranks in the 32nd percentile among Surgery codes — 1.7x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 65436?
CPT 65436 (Curette/treat cornea) is a Surgery code. Scraping of cornea, therapeutic; penetrating.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 65436?
The work RVU for CPT 65436 is 4.70. This code is primarily used by corneal surgery, refractive surgery. It has a 90-day global period.
When is CPT 65436 used?
Deeper therapeutic scraping for corneal dystrophy, scarring, or significant erosion. May extend into Bowman layer or anterior stroma.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.