The thin layer of tears covering the front of the eye is imaged, in one or both eyes, and the pictures are interpreted and set out in a report. The images show how the tear layer spreads over the surface and how quickly it breaks up. This helps explain symptoms such as dryness, grittiness, watering and blurred vision that clears when you blink.
Rates data updated October 2026.
How much does Tear Film Imaging cost?
$39.81
Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $39.81 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $30.90 to $39.81.
These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $31 · 10th to 90th $31 to $31Professionalmedian $40 · 10th to 90th $23 to $48
Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.
Rates by insurance carrier
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$30.90
Facility
None
$30.90
$30.90
$30.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$36.31
Professional
None
$30.90
$30.90
$36.31
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$47.86
Professional
None
$30.90
$39.81
$47.86
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$204.17
Professional
None
$204.17
$204.17
$204.17
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$33.11
Facility
None
$30.90
$30.90
$33.11
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$30.20
Professional
None
$21.38
$30.20
$30.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$38.02
Professional
None
$13.80
$20.89
$38.02
3 more rates with less common billing modifiers
A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.
Insurance Carrier
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$17.78
Professional
52 · Reduced service
$15.49
$15.49
$17.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$7.24
Professional
53 · Discontinued
$6.17
$6.17
$7.24
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$15.14
Professional
51 · Multiple procedures
$10.72
$15.14
$15.14
Where North Carolina sits
The same service costs 4.4 times more in Wyoming than in Louisiana. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.