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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H18.60

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H18.60

Keratoconus, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:
H18.60
ICD-10 Code for:
Keratoconus, unspecified
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)
      • Other disorders of cornea
        (H18)

H18.60 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of keratoconus, unspecified. 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.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H18.60 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Keratoconus, unspecified

Non-specific codes like H18.60 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 keratoconus, unspecified:

  • Use H18.601 for Keratoconus, unspecified, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.602 for Keratoconus, unspecified, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.603 for Keratoconus, unspecified, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.609 for Keratoconus, unspecified, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Keratoconus

    a noninflammatory, usually bilateral protrusion and thinning of the cornea, the apex being displaced downward and nasally. it occurs most commonly in females at about puberty. two closely related noninflammatory corneal ectasias are pellucid marginal degeneration and keratoglobus.

  • Cornea

    the transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous corneal epithelium; bowman membrane; corneal stroma; descemet membrane; and mesenchymal corneal endothelium. it serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. it is structurally continuous with the sclera, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (cline et al., dictionary of visual science, 4th ed)

  • Keratoconus

    a degenerative, structural disorder of the eye, characterized by a cone-shaped protrusion of the cornea. it may lead to visual disturbances.

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.