Policyholder Services

Is chelation therapy for treatment of band keratopathy permitted under Surgery Class 1 coverage?

Yes. Calcific band keratopathy is a degeneration of the superficial corneal characterized by a linear band of calcium or urates deposited across the cornea. The condition can be caused by chronic inflammatory ocular disease, kidney disease, gout, or other conditions that result in high levels of calcium in the body. Chelation therapy is an effective treatment to remove the calcium deposits by applying an ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution and superficially scraping the corneal surface. Before undergoing chelation treatment, patients should undergo a workup to rule out associated metabolic or renal disease, and underlying conditions should be treated or controlled as much as possible.