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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H53
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H53

Visual disturbances

ICD-10-CM Code:
H53
ICD-10 Code for:
Visual disturbances
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa
    (H00–H59)
    • Visual disturbances and blindness
      (H53-H54)
      • Visual disturbances
        (H53)

H53 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of visual disturbances. 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 Visual disturbances

Non-specific codes like H53 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 visual disturbances:

  • H53.0 for Amblyopia ex anopsia - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.00 for Unspecified amblyopia - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.01 for Deprivation amblyopia - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.02 for Refractive amblyopia - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.03 for Strabismic amblyopia - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.04 for Amblyopia suspect - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.1 for Subjective visual disturbances - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.10 for Unspecified subjective visual disturbances - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.11 for Day blindness - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.12 for Transient visual loss - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.13 for Sudden visual loss - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.14 for Visual discomfort - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.15 for Visual distortions of shape and size - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.16 for Psychophysical visual disturbances - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.19 for Other subjective visual disturbances - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.2 for Diplopia - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.3 for Other and unspecified disorders of binocular vision - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.30 for Unspecified disorder of binocular vision - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.31 for Abnormal retinal correspondence - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.32 for Fusion with defective stereopsis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.33 for Simultaneous visual perception without fusion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.34 for Suppression of binocular vision - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.4 for Visual field defects - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.40 for Unspecified visual field defects - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.41 for Scotoma involving central area - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.42 for Scotoma of blind spot area - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.43 for Sector or arcuate defects - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.45 for Other localized visual field defect - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.46 for Homonymous bilateral field defects - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.47 for Heteronymous bilateral field defects - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.48 for Generalized contraction of visual field - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.5 for Color vision deficiencies - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.50 for Unspecified color vision deficiencies - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.51 for Achromatopsia - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.52 for Acquired color vision deficiency - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.53 for Deuteranomaly - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.54 for Protanomaly - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.55 for Tritanomaly - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.59 for Other color vision deficiencies - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.6 for Night blindness - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.60 for Unspecified night blindness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.61 for Abnormal dark adaptation curve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.62 for Acquired night blindness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.63 for Congenital night blindness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.69 for Other night blindness - BILLABLE CODE

  • H53.7 for Vision sensitivity deficiencies - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.71 for Glare sensitivity - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.72 for Impaired contrast sensitivity - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.8 for Other visual disturbances - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H53.9 for Unspecified visual disturbance - BILLABLE CODE

Patient Education


Vision Impairment and Blindness

If you have low vision, eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery may not help. Activities like reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV may be hard to do. The leading causes of low vision and blindness in the United States are age-related eye diseases: macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma. Other eye disorders, eye injuries, and birth defects can also cause vision loss.

Whatever the cause, lost vision cannot be restored. It can, however, be managed. A loss of vision means that you may have to reorganize your life and learn new ways of doing things. If you have some vision, visual aids such as special glasses and large print books can make life easier. There are also devices to help those with no vision, like text-reading software and braille books.

The sooner vision loss or eye disease is found and treated, the greater your chances of keeping your remaining vision. You should have regular comprehensive eye exams by an eye care professional.

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.