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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H16
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H16

Keratitis

ICD-10-CM Code:
H16
ICD-10 Code for:
Keratitis
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa
    (H00–H59)
    • Disorders of sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body
      (H15-H22)
      • Keratitis
        (H16)

H16 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of keratitis. 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 Keratitis

Non-specific codes like H16 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 keratitis:

  • H16.0 for Corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.00 for Unspecified corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.01 for Central corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.02 for Ring corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.03 for Corneal ulcer with hypopyon - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.04 for Marginal corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.05 for Mooren's corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.06 for Mycotic corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.07 for Perforated corneal ulcer - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.1 for Other and unspecified superficial keratitis without conjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.10 for Unspecified superficial keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.11 for Macular keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.12 for Filamentary keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.13 for Photokeratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.14 for Punctate keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.2 for Keratoconjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.20 for Unspecified keratoconjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.21 for Exposure keratoconjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.22 for Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, not specified as Sjogren's - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.23 for Neurotrophic keratoconjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.24 for Ophthalmia nodosa - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.25 for Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.26 for Vernal keratoconjunctivitis, with limbar and corneal involvement - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.29 for Other keratoconjunctivitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.3 for Interstitial and deep keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.30 for Unspecified interstitial keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.31 for Corneal abscess - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.32 for Diffuse interstitial keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.33 for Sclerosing keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.39 for Other interstitial and deep keratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.4 for Corneal neovascularization - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.40 for Unspecified corneal neovascularization - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.41 for Ghost vessels (corneal) - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.42 for Pannus (corneal) - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.43 for Localized vascularization of cornea - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.44 for Deep vascularization of cornea - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.8 for Other keratitis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.9 for Unspecified keratitis - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis

    infection of the cornea by an ameboid protozoan which may cause corneal ulceration leading to blindness.

  • Corneal Ulcer

    loss of epithelial tissue from the surface of the cornea due to progressive erosion and necrosis of the tissue; usually caused by bacterial, fungal, or viral infection.

  • Keratitis

    inflammation of the cornea.

  • Keratitis, Dendritic

    a form of herpetic keratitis characterized by the formation of small vesicles which break down and coalesce to form recurring dendritic ulcers, characteristically irregular, linear, branching, and ending in knoblike extremities. (dictionary of visual science, 3d ed)

  • Keratitis, Herpetic

    a superficial, epithelial herpesvirus hominis infection of the cornea, characterized by the presence of small vesicles which may break down and coalesce to form dendritic ulcers (keratitis, dendritic). (dictionary of visual science, 3d ed)

  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis

    keratitis due to infection by acanthamoeba; it is usually associated with soft contact lens wear, particularly overnight wear.

  • Dendritic Keratitis

    infection of the cornea with herpes simplex virus, resulting in branching ulcers of the corneal tissue.

  • Fungal Keratitis

    keratitis caused by fungi.

  • Grade 1 Keratitis, CTCAE|CTCAE Grade 1 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)|Grade 1 Keratitis|Grade 1 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)

    asymptomatic; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated

  • Grade 2 Keratitis, CTCAE|CTCAE Grade 2 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)|Grade 2 Keratitis|Grade 2 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)

    symptomatic; moderate decrease in visual acuity (best corrected visual acuity 20/40 and better or 3 lines or less decreased vision from known baseline)

  • Grade 3 Keratitis, CTCAE|CTCAE Grade 3 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)|Grade 3 Keratitis|Grade 3 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)

    symptomatic with marked decrease in visual acuity (best corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 or more than 3 lines of decreased vision from known baseline, up to 20/200); corneal ulcer; limiting self care adl

  • Grade 4 Keratitis, CTCAE|CTCAE Grade 4 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)|Grade 4 Keratitis|Grade 4 Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)

    perforation; best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the affected eye

  • Infectious Keratitis|Infective Keratitis

    inflammation of the cornea secondary to an infectious process.

  • Keratitis, CTCAE|Keratitis|Keratitis|Keratitis (corneal inflammation/corneal ulceration)

    a disorder characterized by inflammation to the cornea of the eye.

  • PAX6 wt Allele|AN|AN2|Aniridia, Keratitis Gene|D11S812E|MGC17209|MGDA|Paired Box 6 wt Allele|Paired Box Gene 6 (Aniridia, Keratitis) Gene|WAGR

    human pax6 wild-type allele is located in the vicinity of 11p13 and is approximately 29 kb in length. this allele, which encodes paired box protein pax-6, plays a role in the mediation of transcription. mutations in the gene are associated with a number of congenital disorders of the eye.

  • Photokeratitis|Ultraviolet Keratitis|Ultraviolet Keratitis

    injury to the cornea secondary to ultraviolet light.

Patient Education


Corneal Disorders

Your cornea is the outermost layer of your eye. It is clear and shaped like a dome. The cornea helps to shield the rest of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful matter. It also helps your eye to focus. If you wear contact lenses, they float on top of your corneas.

Problems with the cornea include:

  • Refractive errors
  • Allergies
  • Infections
  • Injuries
  • Dystrophies - conditions in which parts of the cornea lose clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material

Treatments of corneal disorders include medicines, corneal transplantation, and corneal laser surgery.

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.