Blindness and low vision
Non-billable header
H54 is a non-billable header code. Use one of the more specific codes below.
Inclusion terms
Includes
- Note: Use an external cause code following the code for the eye condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the eye condition
- Note: For definition of visual impairment categories see table below
Excludes1
Not coded here — never report together with this code.
- amaurosis fugax (G45.3)
Excludes2
Not included here — may be reported together when both conditions exist.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- diabetes mellitus related eye conditions (E09.3-, E10.3-, E11.3-, E13.3-)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury (trauma) of eye and orbit (S05.-)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- syphilis related eye disorders (A50.01, A50.3-, A51.43, A52.71)
Code first
Sequence the underlying condition first.
- any associated underlying cause of the blindness
More specific codes H54
- H54.0Blindness, both eyesHeader
- H54.1Blindness, one eye, low vision other eyeHeader
- H54.2Low vision, both eyesHeader
- H54.3Unqualified visual loss, both eyesBillable
- H54.4Blindness, one eyeHeader
- H54.5Low vision, one eyeHeader
- H54.6Unqualified visual loss, one eyeHeader
- H54.7Unspecified visual lossBillable
- H54.8Legal blindness, as defined in USABillable
Related codes
- H53Visual disturbancesHeader