Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Paul Chen, M.D.
Ophthalmology · Carlsbad, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Chen from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
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What this data tells you about Dr. Chen
Dr. Paul Chen is an ophthalmology specialist in Carlsbad, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Chen performed 8,044 Medicare services across 5,969 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Chen received a total of $23,568 from 41 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 329 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. Most payments are for meals and travel — low-value interactions common across virtually all practicing physicians. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Chen is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 11% volume in CA
$23,568 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,044
Medicare services
Top 11% in CA for ophthalmology
5,969
Unique beneficiaries
$79
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~402 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
1,923 | $99 | $279 |
| Retinal photography (fundus photo) This procedure involves taking photographs of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It is used to document the condition of the eye's interior structures. |
908 | $29 | $82 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
733 | $100 | $273 |
| Visual field test, extended A test that maps your complete field of vision to detect blind spots or peripheral vision loss. Extended testing provides a more detailed assessment than a standard visual field exam. |
645 | $52 | $140 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea. |
637 | $9 | $25 |
| Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan) Imaging of the optic nerve. |
619 | $28 | $81 |
| Extended eye exam with retinal drawing A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina. |
398 | $19 | $53 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
356 | $33 | $89 |
| Corneal topography and eye depth measurement This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. |
311 | $21 | $104 |
| Laser removal of recurring cataract A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule. |
271 | $261 | $733 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
259 | $74 | $194 |
| Insertion of drug delivery implant into tear duct A small implant containing medication is placed into the tear duct of the eye to deliver drugs directly to the eye over time. |
178 | $14 | $82 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient. |
163 | $101 | $329 |
| Complex cataract removal with lens implant A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision. |
162 | $618 | $1,586 |
| Eyelash removal with forceps This procedure involves the manual removal of eyelashes using forceps. It is a mechanical extraction method performed on the eyelid area. |
134 | $19 | $57 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
78 | $114 | $353 |
| Visual field test, intermediate A test that measures your side vision to check for blind spots or other vision changes. |
62 | $40 | $105 |
| Eye photography Photographic imaging of the interior structures of the eye. |
36 | $19 | $53 |
| Removal of foreign body from external eye This procedure involves the removal of a foreign object from the conjunctiva, which is the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye. |
33 | $23 | $61 |
| Removal of excessive skin and fat of upper eyelid | 28 | $697 | $2,730 |
| Cataract surgery with lens implant Surgical removal of the clouded natural lens of the eye and replacement with an artificial prosthetic lens to restore vision. |
28 | $448 | $1,165 |
| Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye. |
27 | $165 | $532 |
| Eye exam, established patient, focused A limited examination of the visual system for an existing patient. The provider focuses on a specific eye-related concern or symptom. |
22 | $70 | $198 |
| Corneal foreign body removal using slit lamp A procedure to remove a foreign object from the surface of the eye's cornea. The removal is performed using a slit lamp microscope to visualize and extract the object. |
17 | $59 | $148 |
| CT scan of cornea A computed tomography scan used to create detailed images of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. |
16 | $30 | $80 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
0.3% high complexity
20.2% medium
79.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$23,568
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,367/year across 7 years
Top 9% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
41
Companies
329
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$19,641 (83.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$2,413 (10.2%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,514 (6.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$4,469
2023
$2,676
2022
$1,995
2021
$2,185
2020
$1,577
2019
$4,636
2018
$6,030
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Alcon Vision LLC
$2,293
Amgen Inc.
$356
RxSight Inc
$337
ABBVIE INC.
$300
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$290
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$262
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$248
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$152
CooperVision Inc.
$73
Harrow Eye, LLC
$58
Glaukos Corporation
$54
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$27
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$21
Top 3 companies account for 66.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$6,191
Alcon Vision LLC
$4,022
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$1,484
Allergan Inc.
$1,455
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$1,162
Allergan, Inc.
$952
Shire North American Group Inc
$896
RxSight Inc
$570
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$480
CooperVision Inc.
$456
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$380
Dr.Reddy's Laboratories,Inc.
$375
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$373
Amgen Inc.
$356
Glaukos Corporation
$341
Beaver-Visitec International, Inc.
$334
ABBVIE INC.
$318
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$294
AbbVie Inc.
$284
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$268
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$262
Lumenis BE inc
$252
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$248
Ivantis, Inc
$216
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$178
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$166
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
$152
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$148
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$138
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
$133
NotalVision
$130
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$125
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$125
MacuLogix, Inc.
$103
Harrow Eye, LLC
$58
Thea Pharma Inc.
$47
Heidelberg Engineering, Inc.
$29
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$27
Mallinckrodt LLC
$22
OPTOS, INC.
$14
TissueTech, Inc.
$3
Top 3 companies account for 49.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · ACTIVEFOCUS · ALPHAGAN P · ARGOS · AcrySof · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · Acuvue · AdaptDx · BESIVANCE · BIOTRUE ONE DAY · BTOD · CRYSTALENS · Centurion · Clareon · Clariti Contact Lens · Crystalens Accommodating IOL (AT-52AO) · CyPass · DEXTENZA · DEXYCU · DURYSTA · ENVISTA · ENVISTA TORIC · EYSUVIS · Flarex · ForeseeHome · HYDRUS Microstent · Hydrus · INVELTYS · ISTENT TRABECULAR MICRO-BYPASS STENT SYSTEM · IYUZEH · Izervay · LIGHT ADJUSTABLE LENS (LAL) AND LIGHT DELIVERY DEVICE (LDD) · LOTEMAX · LOTEMAX SM · LUMIGAN · LenSx · Luxor · MIEBO · MiSight Contact Lens · Monaco · MyDay Contact Lens · OMNI · OMNI SURGICAL SYSTEM · OMNI Surgical System · OMNI(R) SURGICAL SYSTEM (US) · OPMI Lumera · OZURDEX · Optilight · PROLENSA · Photrexa · Prokera · RESTASIS · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · RXSIGHT CONTACT LENS · RXSIGHT INJECTOR HANDPIECE · ReSure Sealant · Rhopressa · Rocklatan · STELLARIS · Spectralis · Stellaris · TEPEZZA · TRAVATAN Z · TYRVAYA · Tecnis 1-piece IOL · Tecnis IOL · UPLIZNA · VEVYE · VUITY · VYZULTA · VisuMax · XDEMVY · XEN GLAUCOMA TREATMENT SYSTEM · XIIDRA · enVista MX60 IOL · iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System · rocklatan
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Most payments (83%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 9% for ophthalmology in CA.
Geographic Context
Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
247
Per 100K population
7.5
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - ENCINITAS
2.7 mi
2.7 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Chen is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 9% of CA peers, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Chen experienced with comprehensive eye exam, established patient?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Chen performed 1,923 comprehensive eye exam, established patient services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Chen receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Chen received a total of $23,568 from 41 companies across 329 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Chen's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Carlsbad?
Dr. Chen's average Medicare payment per service is $79. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Chen) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. Data Coverage reflects data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
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