Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H47.2

Optic atrophy

ICD-10-CM Code:
H47.2
ICD-10 Code for:
Optic atrophy
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa
    (H00–H59)
    • Disorders of optic nerve and visual pathways
      (H46-H47)
      • Other disorders of optic [2nd] nerve and visual pathways
        (H47)

H47.2 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of optic atrophy. 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 Optic atrophy

Non-specific codes like H47.2 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 optic atrophy:

  • Use H47.20 for Unspecified optic atrophy - BILLABLE CODE

  • H47.21 for Primary optic atrophy - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.211 for Primary optic atrophy, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.212 for Primary optic atrophy, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.213 for Primary optic atrophy, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.219 for Primary optic atrophy, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.22 for Hereditary optic atrophy - BILLABLE CODE

  • H47.23 for Glaucomatous optic atrophy - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.231 for Glaucomatous optic atrophy, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.232 for Glaucomatous optic atrophy, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.233 for Glaucomatous optic atrophy, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.239 for Glaucomatous optic atrophy, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H47.29 for Other optic atrophy - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.291 for Other optic atrophy, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.292 for Other optic atrophy, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.293 for Other optic atrophy, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H47.299 for Other optic atrophy, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Optic Atrophies, Hereditary

    hereditary conditions that feature progressive visual loss in association with optic atrophy. relatively common forms include autosomal dominant optic atrophy (optic atrophy, autosomal dominant) and leber hereditary optic atrophy (optic atrophy, hereditary, leber).
  • Optic Atrophy

    atrophy of the optic disk which may be congenital or acquired. this condition indicates a deficiency in the number of nerve fibers which arise in the retina and converge to form the optic disk; optic nerve; optic chiasm; and optic tracts. glaucoma; ischemia; inflammation, a chronic elevation of intracranial pressure, toxins, optic nerve compression, and inherited conditions (see optic atrophies, hereditary) are relatively common causes of this condition.
  • Optic Atrophy, Autosomal Dominant

    dominant optic atrophy is a hereditary optic neuropathy causing decreased visual acuity, color vision deficits, a centrocecal scotoma, and optic nerve pallor (hum. genet. 1998; 102: 79-86). mutations leading to this condition have been mapped to the opa1 gene at chromosome 3q28-q29. opa1 codes for a dynamin-related gtpase that localizes to mitochondria.
  • Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber

    a maternally linked genetic disorder that presents in mid-life as acute or subacute central vision loss leading to central scotoma and blindness. the disease has been associated with missense mutations in the mtdna, in genes for complex i, iii, and iv polypeptides, that can act autonomously or in association with each other to cause the disease. (from online mendelian inheritance in man, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/, mim#535000 (april 17, 2001))
  • Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy

    an autosomal dominant hereditary condition characterized by optic atrophy and progressive visual loss.
  • Dynamin-Like 120 kDa Protein, Mitochondrial|Dynamin-Like Guanosine Triphosphatase|EC 3.6.5.5|Mitochondrial Dynamin-Like GTPase|OPA1|OPA1 Mitochondrial Dynamin Like GTPase|OPA1 Mitochondrial Dynamin-Like GTPase|Optic Atrophy Protein 1

    dynamin-like 120 kda protein, mitochondrial (960 aa, ~112 kda) is encoded by the human opa1 gene. this protein plays a role in gtpase activity that regulates fusion and fission of mitochondria.
  • Hereditary Optic Atrophy

    a family of inherited disorders characterized by progressive loss of vision secondary to death of the retinal ganglion cell axons that comprise the optic nerve.
  • Leber Hereditary Optic Atrophy

    a hereditary disorder caused by mitochondrial mutations, resulting in the degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells and optic atrophy. it is characterized by an acute or subacute loss of central vision. it may initially affect one eye only, but eventually the central loss of vision becomes bilateral.
  • OPA1 wt Allele|BERHS|FLJ12460|KIAA0567|MGM1|MTDPS14|NPG|NTG|OPA1 Mitochondrial Dynamin Like GTPase wt Allele|OPA1 Mitochondrial Dynamin-Like GTPase Gene|OPA1, Mitochondrial Dynamin Like GTPase Gene|Optic Atrophy 1 (Autosomal Dominant) Gene|largeG

    human opa1 wild-type allele is located in the vicinity of 3q29 and is approximately 105 kb in length. this allele, which encodes dynamin-like 120 kda protein, mitochondrial, is involved in the regulation of fusion and fission of mitochondria. mutations in this gene are associated with optic atrophy type 1, mitochondrial dna depletion syndrome 14 and behr syndrome.
  • Optic Atrophy

    a disorder characterized by loss of optic nerve fibers. it may be inherited or acquired. acquired causes include ischemia, optic nerve neuropathy, glaucoma, trauma, radiation, brain tumors, and multiple sclerosis. it leads to vision disturbances.
  • Optic Atrophy 1|Kjer-type Optic Atrophy|OPA1

    an autosomal dominant form of hereditary optic atrophy caused by mutation(s) in the opa1 gene, encoding dynamin-like 120 kda protein, mitochondrial.
  • Wolfram Syndrome|DIDMOAD|DIDMOAD|Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness Syndrome

    a rare inherited syndrome caused by mutations in the wfs1 and cisd2 genes. it is characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness.

Patient Education


Optic Nerve Disorders

The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers that carry visual messages. You have one connecting the back of each eye (your retina) to your brain. Damage to an optic nerve can cause vision loss. The type of vision loss and how severe it is depends on where the damage occurs. It may affect one or both eyes.

There are many different types of optic nerve disorders, including:

  • Glaucoma is a group of diseases that are the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Glaucoma usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises and damages the optic nerve.
  • Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve. Causes include infections and immune-related illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Sometimes the cause is unknown.
  • Optic nerve atrophy is damage to the optic nerve. Causes include poor blood flow to the eye, disease, trauma, or exposure to toxic substances.
  • Optic nerve head drusen are pockets of protein and calcium salts that build up in the optic nerve over time

Contact your health care provider if you are having vision problems. Tests for optic nerve disorders may include eye exams, ophthalmoscopy (an examination of the back of your eye), and imaging tests. Treatment depends on which disorder that you have. With some optic nerve disorders, you may get your vision back. With others, there is no treatment, or treatment may only prevent further vision loss.


[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.