Blindness and low vision
In Visual disturbances and blindness (H53-H54), chapter 7: Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa
44 billable codes under H54: none are a CC or MCC; none map to an HCC.
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Instructional notes
Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code
- amaurosis fugax (G45.3)
Code first: code the underlying condition first, then this code
- any associated underlying cause of the blindness
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
- Section I.C.7.b Blindness (page 49), covers H54
When the visual impairment category is not documented, assign H54.3 for both eyes, H54.6- for one eye, and H54.7 when it is not stated whether one or both eyes are affected.
Other Chapter 7 topics:
- Glaucoma (page 48)
All codes under H54
H54 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
- H54.0Blindness, both eyes
- H54.0XBlindness, both eyes, different category levels
- H54.0X3Blindness right eye, category 3
- H54.0X33Blindness right eye category 3, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.0X34Blindness right eye category 3, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.0X35Blindness right eye category 3, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.0X4Blindness right eye, category 4
- H54.0X43Blindness right eye category 4, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.0X44Blindness right eye category 4, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.0X45Blindness right eye category 4, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.0X5Blindness right eye, category 5
- H54.0X53Blindness right eye category 5, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.0X54Blindness right eye category 5, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.0X55Blindness right eye category 5, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.1Blindness, one eye, low vision other eye
- H54.10Blindness, one eye, low vision other eye, unspecified eyes
- H54.11Blindness, right eye, low vision left eye
- H54.113Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye
- H54.1131Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.1132Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.114Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye
- H54.1141Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.1142Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.115Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye
- H54.1151Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.1152Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.12Blindness, left eye, low vision right eye
- H54.121Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye
- H54.1213Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.1214Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.1215Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.122Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye
- H54.1223Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.1224Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.1225Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.2Low vision, both eyes
- H54.2XLow vision, both eyes, different category levels
- H54.2X1Low vision, right eye, category 1
- H54.2X11Low vision right eye category 1, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.2X12Low vision right eye category 1, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.2X2Low vision, right eye, category 2
- H54.2X21Low vision right eye category 2, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.2X22Low vision right eye category 2, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.3Unqualified visual loss, both eyes
- H54.4Blindness, one eye
- H54.40Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye
- H54.41Blindness, right eye, normal vision left eye
- H54.413Blindness, right eye, category 3
- H54.413ABlindness right eye category 3, normal vision left eye
- H54.414Blindness, right eye, category 4
- H54.414ABlindness right eye category 4, normal vision left eye
- H54.415Blindness, right eye, category 5
- H54.415ABlindness right eye category 5, normal vision left eye
- H54.42Blindness, left eye, normal vision right eye
- H54.42ABlindness, left eye, category 3-5
- H54.42A3Blindness left eye category 3, normal vision right eye
- H54.42A4Blindness left eye category 4, normal vision right eye
- H54.42A5Blindness left eye category 5, normal vision right eye
- H54.5Low vision, one eye
- H54.50Low vision, one eye, unspecified eye
- H54.51Low vision, right eye, normal vision left eye
- H54.511Low vision, right eye, category 1
- H54.511ALow vision right eye category 1, normal vision left eye
- H54.512Low vision, right eye, category 2
- H54.512ALow vision right eye category 2, normal vision left eye
- H54.52Low vision, left eye, normal vision right eye
- H54.52ALow vision, left eye, category 1-2
- H54.52A1Low vision left eye category 1, normal vision right eye
- H54.52A2Low vision left eye category 2, normal vision right eye
- H54.6Unqualified visual loss, one eye
- H54.60Unqualified visual loss, one eye, unspecified
- H54.61Unqualified visual loss, right eye, normal vision left eye
- H54.62Unqualified visual loss, left eye, normal vision right eye
- H54.7Unspecified visual loss
- H54.8Legal blindness, as defined in USA
H54 MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, all 44 billable codes under H54 group to MS-DRG 124 or 125 (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.
Other codes that refer to H54
Notes on these codes point to H54.
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Vision Impairment and Blindness
Vision impairment is the loss of vision. It includes blindness, which means that you have lost all or most of your sight. It also includes low vision, which means you have some vision, but the vision loss makes it hard to do everyday activities. You may have trouble reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV. Low vision can't be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery.
Read more about vision impairment and blindness on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.