CPT code 66160: Glaucoma surgery, iridencleisis technique2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66160 in California.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 66160 covers

In iridencleisis, the ophthalmic surgeon creates a fistula through the sclera and secures a portion of the iris in the opening to maintain aqueous outflow and reduce intraocular pressure. It is a filtration operation for glaucoma, rather than laser treatment or placement of an aqueous shunt. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room, commonly in a facility setting, by an ophthalmologist experienced in glaucoma surgery.

Report 66160 when the operative technique is iridencleisis; select a different glaucoma procedure code when the surgeon performs another filtration method, such as trabeculectomy or shunt implantation. The operative report should establish the glaucoma indication and describe the fistula and iris manipulation. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For bilateral surgery reported with modifier 50, payment is 150%. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 66160 pays more and less in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 66160 rate is calculated

Each of 66160’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 66160

66160 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

66160 compared with similar codes

How to choose

66170TrabeculectomyWithout prior scarring

66170 describes trabeculectomy, a filtration procedure performed by a different technique. Choose 66160 for iridencleisis, where iris tissue is secured in the scleral fistula.

66172Glaucoma surgeryPrior surgery or trauma scarring

66172 describes trabeculectomy in the setting of scarring from prior ocular surgery or trauma. It is not the code for iridencleisis.

66180Glaucoma shuntWith graft

66180 describes glaucoma drainage using an aqueous shunt. 66160 is selected when the surgeon creates a fistula and secures iris tissue in it.

Codes related to 66160

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates