2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E50.3Vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis
ICD-10-CM Codes›E00–E89›E50-E64›E50
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Chronic Condition
E50.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. Coders also document this condition as dry cornea. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nutritional deficiencies.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Dry cornea
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Vitamin A deficiency with corneal xerosis
- Vitamin A deficiency with corneal xerosis and ulcer
- Xerosis of cornea
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to E50.3: its own notes plus those printed at E50, block E50-E64, and Chapter 4. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2
Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- All neoplasms, whether functionally active or not, are classified in Chapter 2. Appropriate codes in this chapter (i.e. E05.8, E07.0, E16-E31, E34.-) may be used as additional codes to indicate either functional activity by neoplasms and ectopic endocrine tissue or hyperfunction and hypofunction of endocrine glands associated with neoplasms and other conditions classified elsewhere.
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name E50.3, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 2
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming E50.3: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Code First 1
These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and E50.3 is one of the conditions named.
- G63 Polyneuropathy in diseases classified elsewhere
Notes 1
These notes mention E50.3.
- E64 Sequelae of malnutrition and other nutritional deficienciesThis category is to be used to indicate conditions in categories E43, E44, E46, E50-E63 as the cause of sequelae, which are themselves classified elsewhere. The 'sequelae' include conditions specified as such; they also include the late effects of diseases classifiable to the above categories if the disease itself is no longer present names E50-E63, which includes this code
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
with ulceration See: Ulcer, cornea;
vitamin A deficiency E50.3
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Vitamin A Deficiency
a nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin a in the diet, characterized by night blindness and other ocular manifestations such as dryness of the conjunctiva and later of the cornea (xerophthalmia). vitamin a deficiency is a very common problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries as a consequence of famine or shortages of vitamin a-rich foods. in the united states it is found among the urban poor, the elderly, alcoholics, and patients with malabsorption. (from cecil textbook of medicine, 19th ed, p1179)
Patient EducationClinical
Malnutrition
Malnutrition means that your body isn't getting enough calories or the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy. This can happen if you don't get enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats, eat too much unhealthy food, or don't get the vitamins and minerals your body needs.
The full article covers:
- What is malnutrition?
- What are the types of malnutrition?
- What causes malnutrition?
- Who is at risk for developing malnutrition?
- What are the symptoms of malnutrition?
- How is malnutrition diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for malnutrition?
- Can malnutrition be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert E50.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About E50.3Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis?
The ICD-10-CM code for vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis is E50.3 (sometimes written as E503). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is E50.3 (Vitamin A deficiency) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does E50.3 group to?
When vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 125, 124, with relative weights from 0.7699 to 1.2470 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can E50.3 be reported with E64.1?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at E50, which applies to E50.3, lists "sequelae of vitamin A deficiency (E64.1)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of E50.3?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, vitamin A deficiency with corneal ulceration and xerosis converts to ICD-9-CM 264.3 (vit A cornea ulcer/xeros). The mapping is a direct match.
