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ICD-10 codes for blindness and low vision are effective Oct. 1, 2017 and reflect parameters from the World Health
Organization (WHO).
A new set of codes was released for use beginning on Oct. 1, 2017.
The category, H54, includes codes for blindness and low vision and with that brings many changes for
documentation and coding.
What that means for is a potential change in documentation standards and understanding the category levels.
The definition of visual impairment and blindness contained the term best Corrected Vision in the better eye.
According to WHO, recent studies have shown that the use of best corrected vision overlooks large portions of
visual impairments, including blindness, due to uncorrected refracted error. This is common occurrence in many
parts of the world.
Uncorrected refractive error is now considered to be a major cause of visual impairment and estimations are under
way to calculate the loss in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) resulting from this cause.
In the new coding convention, the words best corrected is being replaced with the word presenting.
Type
Stage (category)
Laterality
Categories are divided between mild or no visual impairment, moderate, severe and blindness.
Category
Worse than:
0 6/18
3/10 (0.3)
20/70
1 6/18
3/10 (0.3)
20/70 6/60
1/10 (0.1)
20/200
2 6/60
1/10 (0.1)
20/200 3/60
1/20 (0.5)
20/400
Blindness
3 3/60
1/20 (0.5)
20/400 1/60*
1/50 (0.02)
5/300 (20/1200)
Blindness
1/60*
1/50 (0.02)
Blindness
H54.10 Blindness, one eye, low vision other eye, unspecified eyes
H54.1131 Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye category 1
H54.1132 Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye category 2
H54.1141 Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye category 1
H54.1142 Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye category 2
H54.1151 Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye category 1
H54.1152 Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye category 2
H54.1213 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 3
H54.1214 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 4
H54.1215 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 5
H54.1223 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 3
H54.1224 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 4
H54.1225 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 5
H54.2X11 Low vision right eye category 1, low vision left eye category 1
H54.2X12 Low vision right eye category 1, low vision left eye category 2
H54.2X21 Low vision right eye category 2, low vision left eye category 1
H54.2X22 Low vision right eye category 2, low vision left eye category 2
H54.511A Low vision right eye category 1, normal vision left eye
H54.512A Low vision right eye category 2, normal vision left eye
H54.52A1 Low vision left eye category 1, normal vision right eye
H54.52A2 Low vision left eye category 2, normal vision right eye
H54.61 Unqualified visual loss, right eye, normal vision left eye
H54.62 Unqualified visual loss, left eye, normal vision right eye
These codes could be confusing when first starting to use them due to the complexity of the combination codes.
There is also a new guideline applicable as well.
If blindness or low vision of both eyes is documented but the visual impairment category is not documented,
assign code H54.3, Unqualified visual loss, both eyes. If blindness or low vision in one eye is documented but the
visual impairment category is not documented, assign a code from H54.6-, Unqualified visual loss, one eye. If
blindness or visual loss is documented without any information about whether one or both eyes are affected,
assign code H54.7, Unspecified visual loss.
This guideline is the new chapter specific guideline for the codes listed above. If the visual impairment category is
not documented we are instructed to use the unspecified.
Always be cautious when using unspecified codes and be sure to check payer policies to avoid rejections.
Approximate Synonyms
Blindness due to DM 1
Blindness due to DM 2
Impaired vision
Impairment level: better eye: near-total impairment: lesser eye: total impairment
Impairment level: better eye: profound impairment: lesser eye: near-total impairment
Impairment level: better eye: profound impairment: lesser eye: total impairment
Code First
Type 1 Excludes