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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H16.1

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H16.1

Other and unspecified superficial keratitis without conjunctivitis

ICD-10-CM Code:
H16.1
ICD-10 Code for:
Other and unsp superficial keratitis without conjunctivitis
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)

H16.1 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of other and unspecified superficial keratitis without conjunctivitis. 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.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H16.1 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.

Specific Coding Applicable to Other and unsp superficial keratitis without conjunctivitis

Non-specific codes like H16.1 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 other and unsp superficial keratitis without conjunctivitis:

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

  • Use H16.101 for Unspecified superficial keratitis, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.102 for Unspecified superficial keratitis, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.103 for Unspecified superficial keratitis, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.109 for Unspecified superficial keratitis, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

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

  • Use H16.111 for Macular keratitis, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.112 for Macular keratitis, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.113 for Macular keratitis, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.119 for Macular keratitis, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

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

  • Use H16.121 for Filamentary keratitis, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.122 for Filamentary keratitis, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.123 for Filamentary keratitis, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.129 for Filamentary keratitis, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H16.13 for Photokeratitis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.131 for Photokeratitis, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.132 for Photokeratitis, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.133 for Photokeratitis, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.139 for Photokeratitis, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

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

  • Use H16.141 for Punctate keratitis, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.142 for Punctate keratitis, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.143 for Punctate keratitis, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H16.149 for Punctate keratitis, unspecified eye - 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.