Blepharoplasty Form

Blepharoplasty Proprietary information of EmblemHealth. © 2026 EmblemHealth & Affiliates POLICY NUMBER LAST REVIEW MG.MM.SU.10jC2 March 13, 2026

Medical Guideline Disclaimer Property of EmblemHealth. All rights reserved. The treating physician or primary care provider must submit to EmblemHealth the clinical evidence that the member meets the criteria for the treatment or surgical procedure. Without this documentation and information, EmblemHealth will not be able to properly review the request preauthorization or post-payment review. The clinical review criteria expressed below reflects how EmblemHealth determines whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary. This clinical policy is not intended to pre-empt the judgment of the reviewing medical director or dictate to health care providers how to practice medicine. Health care providers are expected to exercise their medical judgment in rendering appropriate care. Health care providers are expected to exercise their medical judgment in rendering appropriate care.
EmblemHealth established the clinical review criteria based upon a review of currently available clinical information (including clinical outcome studies in the peer reviewed published medical literature, regulatory status of the technology, evidence-based guidelines of public health and health research agencies, evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations, views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas, and other relevant factors). EmblemHealth expressly reserves the right to revise these conclusions as clinical information changes and welcomes further relevant information. Each benefit program defines which services are covered. The conclusion that a particular service or supply is medically necessary does not constitute a representation or warranty that this service or supply is covered and/or paid for by EmblemHealth, as some programs exclude coverage for services or supplies that EmblemHealth considers medically necessary.
If there is a discrepancy between this guideline and a member's benefits program, the benefits program will govern. Identification of selected brand names of devices, tests and procedures in a medical coverage policy is for reference only and is not an endorsement of any one device, test or procedure over another. In addition, coverage may be mandated by applicable legal requirements of a state, the Federal Government or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Medicare and Medicaid members. All coding and web site links are accurate at time of publication.
EmblemHealth may also use tools developed by third parties, such as the MCG™ Care Guidelines, to assist us in administering health benefits. The MCG™ Care Guidelines are intended to be used in connection with the independent professional medical judgment of a qualified health care provider and do not constitute the practice of medicine or medical advice. EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC, has adopted this policy in providing management, administrative and other services to EmblemHealth Plan, Inc., EmblemHealth Insurance Company, EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC, and Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP) related to health benefit plans offered by these entities. All of the aforementioned entities are affiliated companies under common control of EmblemHealth Inc. Definitions Blepharochalasis Excessive skin on the eyelids due to chronic blepharedema, which physically stretches the skin. Blepharoptosis Drooping of the upper eyelid, which relates to the position of the eyelid margin with respect to the eyeball and visual axis. Brow Ptosis Drooping of the eyebrows to such an extent that excess tissue is pushed into the upper eyelid. It is recognized that in some instances the brow ptosis may contribute to significant superior visual field loss. It may coexist with clinically significant dermatochalasis and/or lid ptosis. Blepharoplasty Surgical removal of redundant skin, muscle and fatty tissue from the eyelids for the purpose of deformity reconstruction, functional improvement of abnormalities or appearance enhancement. Cosmetic blepharoplasty When blepharoplasty is performed to improve a patient’s appearance in the absence of any signs or symptoms of functional abnormalities, the procedure is considered cosmetic.
Reconstructive blepharoplasty When blepharoplasty is performed to correct visual impairment caused by drooping of the eyelids (ptosis); repair defects caused by trauma or tumor-ablative surgery (ectropion/entropion corneal exposure); treat periorbital sequelae of thyroid disease and nerve palsy; or relieve the painful symptoms of blepharospasm, the procedure should be considered reconstructive. This may involve rearrangement or excision of the structures with the eyelids and/or tissues of the cheek, forehead and nasal areas. Occasionally a graft of skin or other distant tissues is transplanted to replace deficient eyelid components.

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Page 2 of 11 Dermatochalasis Excessive skin on the eyelids as a result of loss of skin elasticity with aging. Pseudoptosis or “false ptosis” Excessive skin overhanging the eyelid margin and creating the appearance of true blepharoptosis, although the eyelid margin is usually in an appropriate position with respect to the eyeball and visual axis. Guideline (See also Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Procedures) The goal of functional or reconstructive surgery is to restore normalcy to a structure that has been altered by trauma, infection, inflammation, degeneration, neoplasia or developmental errors.
Members are eligible for coverage of blepharoplasty procedures and repair of blepharoptosis when performed as functional or reconstructive surgery to correct any of the following (list not meant to be all-inclusive):
 Congenital ptosis with risk for amblyopia  Ectropion and Entropion (visual fields not necessary)  Prosthesis difficulties in an anophthalmia socket  Symptomatic redundant skin weighing down upper lashes
 Visual impairment with near or far vision due to dermatochalasis, blepharochalasis or blepharoptosis
 To relieve painful symptoms of blepharospasm  Epiblepharon  Lagophthalmos  Congenital lagophthalmos  Post-traumatic defects of the eyelid  Exposure keratopathy secondary to thyroid eye disease  Blepharotomy for symptomatic exposure secondary to eyelid retraction resistant to medical therapy  Superficial punctate keratitis resistant to medical therapy necessitating blepharotomy Documented patient complaints justifying functional surgery that are commonly found in patients with ptosis, pseudoptosis or dermatochalasis include:  Interference with vision or visual field.  Difficulty reading or driving due to upper eyelid drooping  Looking through the eyelashes or seeing the upper eyelid skin

 The upper eyelid skin rests on the eyelashes
 The upper eyelid position contributes to difficulty tolerating a prosthesis in an anophthalmia socket Visual fields: Must be recorded using either the Goldmann Perimeter or a programmable perimeter to test a superior (vertical) extent of 50–60 degrees above fixation. The superior visual with the upper eyelid at rest should be restricted to within 30 degrees of fixation and there should be a minimum of 12 degrees of improvement in the superior visual field (vertical extent) with the upper eyelids taped. Limitations and Exclusions The Plan does not consider blepharoplasty procedures performed solely for cosmetic reasons to be medically necessary. Blepharoplasty, blepharoptosis repair, or brow lift and lower lid blepharoplasty is considered cosmetic and not medically necessary when performed to improve an individual’s appearance in the absence of any signs or symptoms of functional abnormalities. Procedure Codes
15820 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid 15821 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid; with extensive herniated fat pad 15822 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid 15823 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid; with excessive skin weighting down lid 67900 Repair of brow ptosis (supraciliary, mid-forehead or coronal approach) 67901 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with suture or other material (eg, banked fascia) 67902 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with autologous fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia) 67903 Repair of blepharoptosis; (tarso) levator resection or advancement, internal approach 67904 Repair of blepharoptosis; (tarso) levator resection or advancement, external approach 67906 Repair of blepharoptosis; superior rectus technique with fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia) 67908 Repair of blepharoptosis; conjunctive-tarso-Müller's muscle-levator resection (eg, Fasanella-Servet type) 67909 Reduction of overcorrection of ptosis 67911 Correction of lid retraction 67914 Repair of ectropion; suture 67915 Repair of ectropion; thermo cauterization 67916 Repair of ectropion; excision tarsal wedge 67917 Repair of ectropion; extensive (eg, tarsal strip operations) 67921 Repair of entropion; suture 67922 Repair of entropion; thermocauterization 67923 Repair of entropion; excision tarsal wedge

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Page 4 of 11 67924 Repair of entropion; extensive (eg, tarsal strip or capsulopalpebral fascia repairs operation)

ICD-10 Diagnoses H01.001 Unspecified blepharitis right upper eyelid H01.002 Unspecified blepharitis right lower eyelid H01.003 Unspecified blepharitis right eye, unspecified eyelid H01.00A Unspecified blepharitis right eye, upper and lower eyelids
H01.004 Unspecified blepharitis left upper eyelid H01.005 Unspecified blepharitis left lower eyelid H01.006 Unspecified blepharitis left eye, unspecified eyelid H01.00B Unspecified blepharitis left eye, upper and lower eyelids
H01.009 Unspecified blepharitis unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H01.011 Ulcerative blepharitis right upper eyelid H01.012 Ulcerative blepharitis right lower eyelid H01.013 Ulcerative blepharitis right eye, unspecified eyelid H01.01A Ulcerative blepharitis right eye, upper and lower eyelids
H01.014 Ulcerative blepharitis left upper eyelid H01.015 Ulcerative blepharitis left lower eyelid H01.016 Ulcerative blepharitis left eye, unspecified eyelid H01.01B Ulcerative blepharitis left eye, upper and lower eyelids
H01.019 Ulcerative blepharitis unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H01.02A Squamous blepharitis right eye, upper and lower eyelids
H01.02B Squamous blepharitis left eye, upper and lower eyelids
H02.001 Unspecified entropion of right upper eyelid H02.002 Unspecified entropion of right lower eyelid H02.003 Unspecified entropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.004 Unspecified entropion of left upper eyelid H02.005 Unspecified entropion of left lower eyelid H02.006 Unspecified entropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.009 Unspecified entropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.011 Cicatricial entropion of right upper eyelid

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Page 5 of 11 H02.012 Cicatricial entropion of right lower eyelid H02.013 Cicatricial entropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.014 Cicatricial entropion of left upper eyelid H02.015 Cicatricial entropion of left lower eyelid H02.016 Cicatricial entropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.019 Cicatricial entropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.021 Mechanical entropion of right upper eyelid H02.022 Mechanical entropion of right lower eyelid H02.023 Mechanical entropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.024 Mechanical entropion of left upper eyelid H02.025 Mechanical entropion of left lower eyelid H02.026 Mechanical entropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.029 Mechanical entropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.031 Senile entropion of right upper eyelid H02.032 Senile entropion of right lower eyelid H02.033 Senile entropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.034 Senile entropion of left upper eyelid H02.035 Senile entropion of left lower eyelid H02.036 Senile entropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.039 Senile entropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.041 Spastic entropion of right upper eyelid H02.042 Spastic entropion of right lower eyelid H02.043 Spastic entropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.044 Spastic entropion of left upper eyelid H02.045 Spastic entropion of left lower eyelid H02.046 Spastic entropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.049 Spastic entropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.051 Trichiasis without entropian right upper eyelid H02.052 Trichiasis without entropian right lower eyelid H02.053 Trichiasis without entropian right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.054 Trichiasis without entropian left upper eyelid H02.055 Trichiasis without entropian left lower eyelid

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Page 6 of 11 H02.056 Trichiasis without entropian left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.059 Trichiasis without entropian unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.101 Unspecified ectropion of right upper eyelid H02.102 Unspecified ectropion of right lower eyelid H02.103 Unspecified ectropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.104 Unspecified ectropion of left upper eyelid H02.105 Unspecified ectropion of left lower eyelid H02.106 Unspecified ectropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.109 Unspecified ectropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.111 Cicatricial ectropion of right upper eyelid H02.112 Cicatricial ectropion of right lower eyelid H02.113 Cicatricial ectropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.114 Cicatricial ectropion of left upper eyelid H02.115 Cicatricial ectropion of left lower eyelid H02.116 Cicatricial ectropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.119 Cicatricial ectropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.121 Mechanical ectropion of right upper eyelid H02.122 Mechanical ectropion of right lower eyelid H02.123 Mechanical ectropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.124 Mechanical ectropion of left upper eyelid H02.125 Mechanical ectropion of left lower eyelid H02.126 Mechanical ectropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.129 Mechanical ectropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.131 Senile ectropion of right upper eyelid H02.132 Senile ectropion of right lower eyelid H02.133 Senile ectropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.134 Senile ectropion of left upper eyelid H02.135 Senile ectropion of left lower eyelid H02.136 Senile ectropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.139 Senile ectropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.141 Spastic ectropion of right upper eyelid H02.142 Spastic ectropion of right lower eyelid

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Page 7 of 11 H02.143 Spastic ectropion of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.144 Spastic ectropion of left upper eyelid H02.145 Spastic ectropion of left lower eyelid H02.146 Spastic ectropion of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.149 Spastic ectropion of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.201 Unspecified lagophthalmos right upper eyelid H02.202 Unspecified lagophthalmos right lower eyelid H02.203 Unspecified lagophthalmos right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.204 Unspecified lagophthalmos left upper eyelid H02.205 Unspecified lagophthalmos left lower eyelid H02.206 Unspecified lagophthalmos left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.209 Unspecified lagophthalmos unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.20A Unspecified lagophthalmos right eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.20B Unspecified lagophthalmos left eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.20C Unspecified lagophthalmos, bilateral, upper and lower eyelids H02.211 Cicatricial lagophthalmos right upper eyelid H02.212 Cicatricial lagophthalmos right lower eyelid H02.213 Cicatricial lagophthalmos right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.214 Cicatricial lagophthalmos left upper eyelid H02.215 Cicatricial lagophthalmos left lower eyelid H02.216 Cicatricial lagophthalmos left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.219 Cicatricial lagophthalmos unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.21A Cicatricial lagophthalmos right eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.21B Cicatricial lagophthalmos left eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.21C Cicatricial lagophthalmos, bilateral, upper and lower eyelids H02.221 Mechanical lagophthalmos right upper eyelid H02.222 Mechanical lagophthalmos right lower eyelid H02.223 Mechanical lagophthalmos right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.224 Mechanical lagophthalmos left upper eyelid H02.225 Mechanical lagophthalmos left lower eyelid H02.226 Mechanical lagophthalmos left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.229 Mechanical lagophthalmos unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid

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Page 8 of 11 H02.22A Mechanical lagophthalmos right eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.22B Mechanical lagophthalmos left eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.22C Mechanical lagophthalmos, bilateral, upper and lower eyelids H02.231 Paralytic lagophthalmos right upper eyelid H02.232 Paralytic lagophthalmos right lower eyelid H02.233 Paralytic lagophthalmos right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.234 Paralytic lagophthalmos left upper eyelid H02.235 Paralytic lagophthalmos left lower eyelid H02.236 Paralytic lagophthalmos left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.239 Paralytic lagophthalmos unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.23A Paralytic lagophthalmos right eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.23B Paralytic lagophthalmos left eye, upper and lower eyelids H02.23C Paralytic lagophthalmos, bilateral, upper and lower eyelids H02.30 Blepharochalasis unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H02.31 Blepharochalasis right upper eyelid H02.32 Blepharochalasis right lower eyelid H02.33 Blepharochalasis right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.34 Blepharochalasis left upper eyelid H02.35 Blepharochalasis left lower eyelid H02.36 Blepharochalasis left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.401 Unspecified ptosis of right eyelid H02.402 Unspecified ptosis of left eyelid H02.403 Unspecified ptosis of bilateral eyelids H02.409 Unspecified ptosis of unspecified eyelid H02.411 Mechanical ptosis of right eyelid H02.412 Mechanical ptosis of left eyelid H02.413 Mechanical ptosis of bilateral eyelids H02.419 Mechanical ptosis of unspecified eyelid H02.421 Myogenic ptosis of right eyelid H02.422 Myogenic ptosis of left eyelid H02.423 Myogenic ptosis of bilateral eyelids H02.429 Myogenic ptosis of unspecified eyelid

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Page 9 of 11 H02.431 Paralytic ptosis of right eyelid H02.432 Paralytic ptosis of left eyelid H02.433 Paralytic ptosis of bilateral eyelids H02.439 Paralytic ptosis unspecified eyelid H02.521 Blepharophimosis right upper eyelid H02.522 Blepharophimosis right lower eyelid H02.523 Blepharophimosis right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.524 Blepharophimosis left upper eyelid H02.525 Blepharophimosis left lower eyelid H02.526 Blepharophimosis left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.529 Blepharophimosis unspecified eye, unspecified lid H02.89 Other specified disorders of eyelid H02.831 Dermatochalasis of right upper eyelid H02.832 Dermatochalasis of right lower eyelid H02.833 Dermatochalasis of right eye, unspecified eyelid H02.834 Dermatochalasis of left upper eyelid H02.835 Dermatochalasis of left lower eyelid H02.836 Dermatochalasis of left eye, unspecified eyelid H02.839 Dermatochalasis of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H16.141 Punctate keratitis, right eye H16.142 Punctate keratitis, left eye H16.143 Punctate keratitis, bilateral H16.149 Punctate keratitis, unspecified eye H18.421 Band keratopathy, right eye H18.422 Band keratopathy, left eye H18.423 Band keratopathy, bilateral H18.429 Band keratopathy, unspecified eye H18.441 Keratomalacia, right eye H18.442 Keratomalacia, left eye H18.443 Keratomalacia, bilateral H18.449 Keratomalacia, unspecified eye L11.8 Other specified acantholytic disorders

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Page 10 of 11 L11.9 Acantholytic disorder, unspecified L57.4 Cutis laxa senilis Q10.0 Congenital ptosis Q10.1 Congenital ectropion Q10.2 Congenital entropion Q10.3 Other congenital malformations of eyelid Q11.1 Other anophthalmos Z90.01 Acquired absence of eye References American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Practice Parameter for Blepharoplasty. March 2007: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/medical-professionals/health-policy/evidence-practice/Blepharoplasty-Practice- Parameter.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2026. National Government Services. Local Coverage Article: Blepharoplasty (A51525). January 2025: https://www.cms.gov/medicare- coverage-database/details/article-details.aspx?articleId=52837&ver=15&DocType=All&bc=AACAAAAAAAAA&. Accessed March 24,

2026. Cahill KV, Bradley EA, Meyer DR, Custer PL, Holck DE, Marcet MM, Mawn LA. Functional indications for upper eyelid ptosis and blepharoplasty surgery: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2011 Dec;118(12):2510-7. Reaffirmed 2020. Specialty-matched clinical peer review. Revision History Company(ies) DATE REVISION EmblemHealth Feb. 14, 2024 Transferred policy content to individual company branded template EmblemHealth ConnectiCare Feb. 9, 2024 Added covered indications: Exposure keratopathy secondary to thyroid eye disease,
      Blepharotomy for symptomatic exposure secondary to eyelid retraction resistant to medical therapy and Superficial punctate keratitis resistant to medical therapy necessitating blepharotomy EmblemHealth ConnectiCare Aug. 11, 2023 Removed symptomatic dermatitis of pretarsal skin caused by redundant upper lid as a covered indication Streamlined visual field and photo documentation requirements EmblemHealth ConnectiCare Jan. 14, 2022 Removed chronic blepharitis as a covered indication EmblemHealth ConnectiCare Jul. 13, 2021 Added covered indications: Epiblepharon, lagophthalmos, congenital lagophthalmos, and post-traumatic defects of the eyelid EmblemHealth ConnectiCare Jan 10, 2020 Changed "The upper eyelid margin approaches to within 2.5 mm (1/4 of the diameter of the visible iris) of the corneal light reflex" to "The upper eyelid margin rests 2 mm or less above the corneal light reflex"

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Page 11 of 11 ConnectiCare Dec. 12, 2019 ConnectiCare adopts the clinical criteria of its parent corporation EmblemHealth EmblemHealth Jan. 11, 2019 Added that blepharoplasty is considered medically necessary to relieve painful symptoms of blepharospasm.