Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Eduardo Besser, M.D.

Ophthalmology · Culver City, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
9808 VENICE BLVD, Culver City, CA 90232
3108380202
In practice since 2006 (19 years)
NPI: 1972561280 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Besser 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 →
Are you Dr. Besser? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →

What this data tells you about Dr. Besser

Dr. Eduardo Besser is an ophthalmology specialist in Culver City, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Besser performed 2,234 Medicare services across 1,848 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Besser received a total of $31,762 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 145 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.

The Data Coverage level for Dr. Besser 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.

✓ 19 years in practice ▲ Top 43% volume in CA $31,762 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
2,234
Medicare services
Top 43% in CA for ophthalmology
1,848
Unique beneficiaries
$95
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~118 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.
350 $94 $310
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.
323 $71 $225
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
270 $99 $350
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.
195 $27 $150
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.
175 $48 $185
Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan)
Imaging of the optic nerve.
158 $29 $185
Corneal topography and eye depth measurement
This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.
156 $32 $195
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.
128 $452 $2,650
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
121 $30 $185
Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness
An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea.
68 $9 $35
Eye drainage system examination
An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye.
64 $22 $80
Laser removal of recurring cataract
A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule.
51 $279 $925
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.
34 $71 $190
Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow
A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye.
30 $197 $950
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.
29 $14 $60
Tear duct plug insertion
A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface.
27 $164 $425
New patient eye exam, problem focused
A focused examination of the visual system performed during a new patient visit.
23 $60 $280
Complex cataract removal with lens implant
A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision.
20 $641 $3,000
Visual field test, intermediate
A test that measures your side vision to check for blind spots or other vision changes.
12 $35 $149
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.
5.7% high complexity
15.5% medium
78.7% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$31,762
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $4,537/year across 7 years
Top 8% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
145
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.

Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$24,265 (76.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$5,697 (17.9%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,800 (5.7%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$9,658
2023
$17,869
2022
$2,561
2021
$147
2020
$98
2019
$595
2018
$833

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
$8,461
Carl Zeiss Meditec USA, Inc.
$468
Alcon Vision LLC
$193
RxSight Inc
$173
Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
$85
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$83
Nova Eye, Inc.
$77
Amgen Inc.
$73
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
ABBVIE INC.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 94.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
$24,126
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$1,861
Carl Zeiss Meditec USA, Inc.
$1,328
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,191
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$545
Glaukos Corporation
$327
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$294
RxSight Inc
$215
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$215
Shire North American Group Inc
$151
NotalVision
$138
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$132
Allergan, Inc.
$129
AbbVie, Inc.
$104
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$97
Allergan Inc.
$86
AbbVie Inc.
$85
Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
$85
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$84
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$83
Nova Eye, Inc.
$77
Amgen Inc.
$73
ABBVIE INC.
$64
OPTOS, INC.
$54
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$38
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$29
Thea Pharma Inc.
$24
BioTissue Holdings, Inc.
$22
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$20
Halozyme Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 86.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AcrySof · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · CALLISTO eye · CATALYS SYSTEM · CIRRUS HD-OCT · Cequa · Clareon · Constellation · DEXTENZA · DOCTORS ALLERGY FORMULA · DURYSTA · ENVISTA · ForeseeHome · HYLENEX RECOMBINANT · Humira · INVELTYS · IOLMaster 700 · LIGHT ADJUSTABLE LENS (LAL) AND LIGHT DELIVERY DEVICE (LDD) · LOTEMAX · LUMERA 700 · LUMIGAN · Monaco · OMNI(R) SURGICAL SYSTEM (US) · ORA System VerifEye · Omidria · PROKERA · PanOptix · QUATERA 700 · RAYNER CATARACT SET 1 · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · RXSIGHT CONTACT LENS · ReSTOR · STELLARIS PC · Simbrinza · TEPEZZA · TYRVAYA · Tecnis IOL · VisuMax · XDEMVY · XIIDRA · enVista MX60 IOL · iStent infinite Trabecular Micro-Bypass System Model iS3 · 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 →

The majority of payments (76%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in ophthalmology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for ophthalmology in CA.

Looking for an ophthalmology specialist in Culver City?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Culver City area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
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Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
750
Per 100K population
7.6
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - WEST LA
0.9 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. Besser is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 8% of CA peers, with 19 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. Besser experienced with comprehensive eye exam, established patient?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Besser performed 350 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. Besser receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Besser received a total of $31,762 from 33 companies across 145 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. Besser's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Culver City?
Dr. Besser's average Medicare payment per service is $95. 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. Besser) 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 →
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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →