2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H16.8Other keratitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H15-H22›H16

ICD-10-CM H16.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H16.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other keratitis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Cornea and external disease.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H16.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other keratitis
Short Description
Other keratitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H16
Keratitis

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH15-H22Disorders of sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body
CategoryH16Keratitis
This CodeH16.8Other keratitis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Autoimmune keratitis
  • Autosomal dominant keratitis
  • Bacterial keratitis
  • Bilateral diffuse lamellar keratitis of eyes
  • Bilateral marginal keratitis of eyes caused by staphylococcus toxin
  • Bilateral scleritis of eyes
  • Bilateral sclerokeratitis
  • Bullous keratopathy
  • Chemical injury to cornea
  • Chemical keratitis
  • Contact lens related sterile keratitis
  • Corneal inflammatory stromal infiltration
  • Diffuse lamellar keratitis
  • Diffuse lamellar keratitis of left eye
  • Diffuse lamellar keratitis of right eye
  • Disorder of eosinophil
  • Enlargement of corneal endothelial cells
  • Eosinophilic keratitis
  • Focal stromal keratitis
  • Fungal keratitis
  • Fusarium infection
  • Granulomatous keratitis
  • Inflammatory pseudoguttae
  • Keratitis bullosa
  • Keratitis due to trauma
  • Keratitis fugax hereditaria
  • Lyme keratitis
  • Marginal keratitis
  • Marginal keratitis of left eye caused by staphylococcus toxin
  • Marginal keratitis of right eye caused by staphylococcus toxin
  • Microsporidia keratitis
  • Mycobacterial keratitis
  • Mycotic keratitis caused by Fusarium
  • Mycotic keratitis caused by Fusarium oxysporum
  • Mycotic keratitis caused by Fusarium solani
  • Necrotizing keratitis
  • Ophthalmic Lyme borreliosis
  • Parasitic keratitis
  • Sclerokeratitis
  • Sclerokeratitis of left eye
  • Sclerokeratitis of right eye
  • Sterile keratitis
  • Vaccinia keratitis
  • Viral keratitis
  • Xerotic keratitis

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • bullosa
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • oyster shuckers'
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • petrificans
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • purulent
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • specified type NEC
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • suppurative
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • vesicular
    • Keratitis(nodular) (nonulcerative) (simple) (zonular)
      • xerotic
    • Sclerokeratitis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR EYE001
Cornea and external disease
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • 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)

  • 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 or severe impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Photokeratitis|Arc Welder's Eye|Arc eye|Ultraviolet Keratitis|Ultraviolet Keratitis|Welder's Flash

    injury to the cornea secondary to ultraviolet light.

  • Stromal Keratitis|Stromal keratitis

    a corneal inflammation affecting the stromal layer.

  • 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.

  • Bullous Keratopathy

    keratopathy that is characterized by the presence of epithelial bullae.

Patient EducationClinical

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.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert H16.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
370.8 Keratitis NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About H16.8Overview

Is H16.8 (Keratitis) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other keratitis on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does H16.8 group to?

When other keratitis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 124, 125, with relative weights from 0.7678 to 1.3231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H16.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other keratitis converts to ICD-9-CM 370.8 (keratitis NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.