Retina and AMD · Equipment
Retinal Imaging Equipment for the primary care practice.
Fundus cameras, ultra-widefield scanners and OCT are the tools that turn a retina check into a documented, billable finding. This guide sorts the main platform types, the makers behind them and the codes they support, so you can match a purchase to the patients already on your schedule.
Quick answer
Buy for the decisions you make most.
Most primary care practices start with one imaging platform that documents the posterior pole and shows change over time. Practices with many diabetic or AMD patients tend to add OCT next, because thickness and fluid on OCT drive referral timing. Ultra-widefield adds the periphery in one capture, which matters most in diabetic retinopathy.
Key takeaways
- Color fundus imaging documents what you see and supports follow-up comparison.
- OCT quantifies macular thickness and fluid, the findings that change referral urgency.
- Ultra-widefield captures the retinal periphery, where many diabetic lesions sit.
- Autonomous AI screening for diabetic retinopathy now has its own CPT code, 92229.
- Most payers bundle imaging codes against each other, so check edits before scheduling.
Six platform types.
Each answers a different clinical question. Pick by the question your patients bring most often.
Ultra-widefield
Optos California captures a 200-degree retinal image, about 82 percent of the retina, in one capture under half a second, per Optos.
Confocal true color
iCare EIDON pairs scanning confocal imaging with true-color widefield views and works through a pupil as small as 2.5 mm without dilation.
OCT plus fundus camera
Topcon Maestro2 is a robotic OCT and fundus camera, now with OCT angiography, with reference data for macula, RNFL and ganglion cell layers.
Standalone OCT
Spectral-domain OCT systems from several makers measure retinal layers and fluid. Many add angiography modules.
Autonomous AI screening
LumineticsCore and EyeArt are FDA-authorized to detect more-than-mild diabetic retinopathy from retinal images without a clinician read.
Home OCT
SCANLY Home OCT received FDA De Novo authorization in May 2024 for patient-operated scans between visits.
The codes each platform supports.
2026 Medicare national rates as summarized by Optos from the Physician Fee Schedule. All are bilateral codes billed once per date of service; confirm your locality and payer edits.
| Service | CPT | 2026 national rate |
|---|---|---|
| Fundus photography, including autofluorescence | 92250 | $37.08 |
| OCT, posterior segment, retina | 92134 | $32.73 |
| OCT, posterior segment, optic nerve | 92133 | $31.06 |
| OCT angiography | 92137 | $59.79 |
| Remote imaging, staff review | 92227 | $18.70 |
| Remote imaging, physician interpretation | 92228 | $30.39 |
| Remote imaging, automated point-of-care analysis | 92229 | $46.76 |
Imaging pays back fastest when it is part of a protocol, not an upsell. Decide in advance which findings trigger OCT, which trigger photos and which trigger a retina referral, and write it into the exam template so every doctor orders the same way.
Frequently asked questions
Which device should a primary care practice buy first?
Usually the one that covers the most frequent decision. A practice heavy in diabetic patients often starts with widefield color imaging; one heavy in AMD follow-up often starts with OCT.
Can fundus photography and OCT be billed on the same day?
Payer edits often bundle 92250 with OCT codes. Optos lists these National Correct Coding Initiative pairs on its 2026 summary, so check each payer before planning same-day imaging.
What is CPT 92229?
It is the code for retinal imaging with automated point-of-care analysis, the code autonomous AI systems such as LumineticsCore and EyeArt cite for reimbursement.
Does ultra-widefield replace dilation?
No. Studies of ultra-widefield imaging show that dilation and lid lifting increase the visible retinal area, so imaging supports the exam rather than replacing it.
Can staff capture the images?
Yes. Most platforms are built for technician capture, with the doctor reviewing and interpreting the images.
Where do I buy these systems?
Imaging platforms are sold by the manufacturers or their distributors. Vision Rescue does not sell imaging equipment.
References
- Optos. California ultra-widefield imaging product information. Optos
- Optos. 2026 retinal imaging CPT codes and rates. Optos PDF
- iCare. iCare EIDON TrueColor confocal fundus imaging system. iCare
- Topcon Healthcare. Maestro2 robotic OCT and fundus camera with OCTA. Topcon
- Digital Diagnostics. LumineticsCore product information. Digital Diagnostics
- Eyenuk. EyeArt autonomous AI screening. Eyenuk
- Jacoba CMP, et al. Visible retinal area and detection of predominantly peripheral lesions with ultra-widefield imaging. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022;140(4):421-425. PubMed
- Every source used across these guides is listed on the Vision Rescue sources page.
About this guide
Written for licensed eye care practices by the Vision Rescue team. Questions: providers@visionrescue.com or 1-855-692-8024.
Important notes and disclosures
Information only, not clinical or legal advice. Product names are trademarks of their owners and appear for identification; Vision Rescue does not endorse or review them. Scope of practice, coverage and coding rules vary by state and payer, so confirm locally. Clinical decisions rest with the treating eye doctor.
Image what changes the plan.
Pair the right platform with a written protocol, and keep macular nutrition and follow-up supplies flowing through your wholesale account.