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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H16.44
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H16.44

Deep vascularization of cornea

ICD-10-CM Code:
H16.44
ICD-10 Code for:
Deep vascularization of cornea
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa
    (H00–H59)
    • Disorders of sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body
      (H15-H22)
      • Keratitis
        (H16)

H16.44 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of deep vascularization of cornea. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Deep vascularization of cornea

Non-specific codes like H16.44 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for deep vascularization of cornea:

  • Use H16.441 for Deep vascularization of cornea, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.442 for Deep vascularization of cornea, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.443 for Deep vascularization of cornea, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.449 for Deep vascularization of cornea, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Corneal Neovascularization

    new blood vessels originating from the corneal blood vessels and extending from the limbus into the adjacent corneal stroma. neovascularization in the superficial and/or deep corneal stroma is a sequel to numerous inflammatory diseases of the ocular anterior segment, such as trachoma, viral interstitial keratitis, microbial keratoconjunctivitis, and the immune response elicited by corneal transplantation.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Patient Education


Corneal Disorders

Your cornea is the outermost layer of your eye. It is clear and shaped like a dome. The cornea helps to shield the rest of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful matter. It also helps your eye to focus. If you wear contact lenses, they float on top of your corneas.

Problems with the cornea include:

  • Refractive errors
  • Allergies
  • Infections
  • Injuries
  • Dystrophies - conditions in which parts of the cornea lose clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material

Treatments of corneal disorders include medicines, corneal transplantation, and corneal laser surgery.

NIH: National Eye Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.