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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H26.9

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H26.9

Unspecified cataract

ICD-10-CM Code:
H26.9
ICD-10 Code for:
Unspecified cataract
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

H26.9 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of unspecified cataract. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H26.9 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.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Anterior capsular lens opacities
  • Anterior lens opacities
  • Anterior subcapsular lens opacities
  • Autosomal dominant optic atrophy and cataract
  • Bilateral cataracts
  • Cardiomyopathy with cataract and hip spine disease syndrome
  • Cataract
  • Cataract maturity - finding
  • Cataract of left eye
  • Cataract of left eye present
  • Cataract of lens capsule of bilateral eyes
  • Cataract of lens capsule of left eye
  • Cataract of lens capsule of right eye
  • Cataract of right eye
  • Cataract of right eye present
  • Cataract present
  • Cataract present
  • Cataract present
  • Cataract, growth hormone deficiency, sensory neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, skeletal dysplasia syndrome
  • Cochleosaccular degeneration and cataract syndrome
  • Cortical lens opacities
  • Cupuliform cataract
  • Dominant hereditary optic atrophy
  • Early opacity of lens
  • Hereditary growth hormone deficiency
  • Hereditary sensory neuropathy
  • Hypertrophic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy
  • Hypertrophic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy associated with cataracts and lactic acidosis
  • Immature cataract
  • Inherited cochlear degeneration
  • Interlenticular opacification
  • Lens capsule clarity in pseudophakia - finding
  • Lens capsule in pseudophakia finding
  • Lens capsule opacity in pseudophakia
  • Microcornea, rod-cone dystrophy, cataract, posterior staphyloma syndrome
  • Non age-related cataract of bilateral eyes
  • Non age-related cataract of left eye
  • Non age-related cataract of right eye
  • Nonsenile cataract
  • Nonsenile cataract
  • Nonsenile cataract
  • Nonsenile cataract
  • Opacification of intraocular lens
  • Partial cataract
  • Sensory neuropathy
  • Severe neurodevelopmental disorder with feeding difficulties, stereotypic hand movement, bilateral cataract
  • Spontaneous reabsorption of cataract
  • Stationary cataract
  • Total cataract of lens of bilateral eyes
  • Total cataract of lens of left eye
  • Total cataract of lens of left eye
  • Total cataract of lens of right eye
  • Total cataract of lens of right eye

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Capsule Opacification

    clouding or loss of transparency of the posterior lens capsule, usually following cataract extraction.

  • Cataract

    partial or complete opacity on or in the lens or capsule of one or both eyes, impairing vision or causing blindness. the many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). (dorland, 27th ed)

  • Cataract Extraction

    the removal of a cataractous crystalline lens from the eye.

  • Acquired Bilateral Cataracts

    cataracts in both eyes that result from the aging process, an injury, or as a manifestation of a systemic disorder.

  • Bilateral Cataracts

    partial or complete opacity of the crystalline lens of both eyes that decreases visual acuity and eventually results in blindness. some cataracts appear in infancy or in childhood, but most develop in older individuals. (sternberg diagnostic surgical pathology, 3rd ed.)

  • Congenital Bilateral Cataracts|Cataract, Congenital, Bilateral

    cataract in both eyes that are present at birth.

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).

Convert H26.9 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 366.9 - Cataract NOS

Patient Education


Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. It affects your vision. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. Common symptoms are:

  • Blurry vision
  • Colors that seem faded
  • Glare - headlights, lamps or sunlight may seem too bright. You may also see a halo around lights.
  • Not being able to see well at night
  • Double vision
  • Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear

Cataracts usually develop slowly. New glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses can help at first. Surgery is also an option. It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help to delay cataracts.

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.

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.