2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E70.31

Specific Coding Applicable to Ocular albinism

Non-specific codes like E70.31 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 ocular albinism:

Clinical Information

• Albinism

  general term for a number of inherited defects of amino acid metabolism in which there is a deficiency or absence of pigment in the eyes, skin, or hair.

• Albinism, Ocular

  albinism affecting the eye in which pigment of the hair and skin is normal or only slightly diluted. the classic type is x-linked (nettleship-falls), but an autosomal recessive form also exists. ocular abnormalities may include reduced pigmentation of the iris, nystagmus, photophobia, strabismus, and decreased visual acuity.

• Albinism, Oculocutaneous

  heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders comprising at least four recognized types, all having in common varying degrees of hypopigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes. the two most common are the tyrosinase-positive and tyrosinase-negative types.

• Piebaldism

  autosomal dominant, congenital disorder characterized by localized hypomelanosis of the skin and hair. the most familiar feature is a white forelock presenting in 80 to 90 percent of the patients. the underlying defect is possibly related to the differentiation and migration of melanoblasts, as well as to defective development of the neural crest (neurocristopathy). piebaldism may be closely related to waardenburg syndrome.

• Waardenburg Syndrome

  rare, autosomal dominant disease with variable penetrance and several known clinical types. characteristics may include depigmentation of the hair and skin, congenital deafness, heterochromia iridis, medial eyebrow hyperplasia, hypertrophy of the nasal root, and especially dystopia canthorum. the underlying cause may be defective development of the neural crest (neurocristopathy). waardenburg's syndrome may be closely related to piebaldism. klein-waardenburg syndrome refers to a disorder that also includes upper limb abnormalities.

Patient Education

Eye Diseases

Some eye problems are minor and don't last long. But some can lead to a permanent loss of vision.

Common eye problems include:

• Refractive errors
• Cataracts - clouded lenses
• Optic nerve disorders, including glaucoma
• Retinal disorders - problems with the nerve layer at the back of the eye
• Macular degeneration - a disease that destroys sharp, central vision
• Diabetic eye problems
• Conjunctivitis - an infection also known as pink eye

Your best defense is to have regular checkups, because eye diseases do not always have symptoms. Early detection and treatment could prevent vision loss. See an eye care professional right away if you have a sudden change in vision, if everything looks dim, or if you see flashes of light. Other symptoms that need quick attention are pain, double vision, fluid coming from the eye, and inflammation.

NIH: National Eye Institute

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Ocular albinism

Ocular albinism is a genetic condition that primarily affects the eyes. This condition reduces the coloring (pigmentation) of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye, and the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Pigmentation in the eye is essential for normal vision.

Ocular albinism is characterized by severely impaired sharpness of vision (visual acuity) and problems with combining vision from both eyes to perceive depth (stereoscopic vision). Although the vision loss is permanent, it does not worsen over time. Other eye abnormalities associated with this condition include rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus); eyes that do not look in the same direction (strabismus); and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia). Many affected individuals also have abnormalities involving the optic nerves, which carry visual information from the eye to the brain.

Unlike some other forms of albinism, ocular albinism does not significantly affect the color of the skin and hair. People with this condition may have a somewhat lighter complexion than other members of their family, but these differences are usually minor.

The most common form of ocular albinism is known as the Nettleship-Falls type or type 1. Other forms of ocular albinism are much rarer and may be associated with additional signs and symptoms, such as hearing 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.