Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H35.31

Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration

ICD-10-CM Code:
H35.31
ICD-10 Code for:
Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa
    (H00–H59)
    • Disorders of choroid and retina
      (H30-H36)
      • Other retinal disorders
        (H35)

H35.31 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of nonexudative age-related macular degeneration. 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 Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration

Non-specific codes like H35.31 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 nonexudative age-related macular degeneration:

  • H35.311 for Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration, right eye - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3110 for stage unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3111 for early dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3112 for intermediate dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3113 for advanced atrophic without subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3114 for advanced atrophic with subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • H35.312 for Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration, left eye - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3120 for stage unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3121 for early dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3122 for intermediate dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3123 for advanced atrophic without subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3124 for advanced atrophic with subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • H35.313 for Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration, bilateral - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3130 for stage unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3131 for early dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3132 for intermediate dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3133 for advanced atrophic without subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3134 for advanced atrophic with subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • H35.319 for Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration, unspecified eye - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3190 for stage unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3191 for early dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3192 for intermediate dry stage - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3193 for advanced atrophic without subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H35.3194 for advanced atrophic with subfoveal involvement - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Classification

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Atrophic age-related macular degeneration
  • Dry age-related macular degeneration

7th Character Note

7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • One of the following 7th characters is to be assigned to codes in subcategory H35.31 to designate the stage of the disease:

7th Character

7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
  • 0 - stage unspecified
  • 1 - early dry stage
  • 2 - intermediate dry stage
  • 3 - advanced atrophic without subfoveal involvement
  • advanced dry stage
  • 4 - advanced atrophic with subfoveal involvement

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


Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and older. It is a disease that destroys your sharp, central vision. You need central vision to see objects clearly and to do tasks such as reading and driving.

AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. It does not hurt, but it causes cells in the macula to die. There are two types: wet and dry. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula. These new blood vessels often leak blood and fluid. Wet AMD damages the macula quickly. Blurred vision is a common early symptom. Dry AMD happens when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down. Your gradually lose your central vision. A common early symptom is that straight lines appear crooked.

Regular comprehensive eye exams can detect macular degeneration before the disease causes vision loss. Treatment can slow vision loss. It does not restore vision.

NIH: National Eye Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that is a leading cause of vision loss in older people in developed countries. Subtle abnormalities indicating changes in vision may occur in a person's forties or fifties. Distorted vision and vision loss usually become noticeable in a person's sixties or seventies and tend to worsen over time.

Age-related macular degeneration mainly affects central vision, which is needed for detailed tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. The vision loss in this condition results from a gradual deterioration of light-sensing cells in the tissue at the back of the eye that detects light and color (the retina). Specifically, age-related macular degeneration affects a small area near the center of the retina, called the macula, which is responsible for central vision. Side (peripheral) vision and night vision are generally not affected, but slow adjustment of vision to darkness (dark adaptation) and reduced dim light (scotopic) vision often occur in the early stages of the disease.

Researchers have described two major types of age-related macular degeneration, known as the dry form and the wet form. The dry form is much more common, accounting for 85 to 90 percent of all cases of age-related macular degeneration. It is characterized by a buildup of yellowish deposits called drusen beneath the retina and vision loss that worsens slowly over time. The most advanced stage of dry age-related macular degeneration is known as geographic atrophy, in which areas of the macula waste away (atrophy), resulting in severe vision loss. Dry age-related macular degeneration typically affects vision in both eyes, although vision loss often occurs in one eye before the other.

In 10 to 15 percent of affected individuals, the dry form progresses to the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. The wet form is characterized by the growth of abnormal, fragile blood vessels underneath the macula. These vessels leak blood and fluid, which damages the macula and makes central vision appear blurry and distorted. The wet form of age-related macular degeneration is associated with severe vision loss that can worsen rapidly.


[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.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.