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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H18.6
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H18.6

Keratoconus

ICD-10-CM Code:
H18.6
ICD-10 Code for:
Keratoconus
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)
      • Other disorders of cornea
        (H18)

H18.6 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of keratoconus. 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 Keratoconus

Non-specific codes like H18.6 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 keratoconus:

  • H18.60 for Keratoconus, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.601 for Keratoconus, unspecified, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.602 for Keratoconus, unspecified, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.603 for Keratoconus, unspecified, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.609 for Keratoconus, unspecified, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H18.61 for Keratoconus, stable - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.611 for Keratoconus, stable, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.612 for Keratoconus, stable, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.613 for Keratoconus, stable, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.619 for Keratoconus, stable, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H18.62 for Keratoconus, unstable - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.621 for Keratoconus, unstable, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.622 for Keratoconus, unstable, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.623 for Keratoconus, unstable, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H18.629 for Keratoconus, unstable, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Keratoconus

    a noninflammatory, usually bilateral protrusion and thinning of the cornea, the apex being displaced downward and nasally. it occurs most commonly in females at about puberty. two closely related noninflammatory corneal ectasias are pellucid marginal degeneration and keratoglobus.

  • Cornea

    the transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous corneal epithelium; bowman membrane; corneal stroma; descemet membrane; and mesenchymal corneal endothelium. it serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. it is structurally continuous with the sclera, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (cline et al., dictionary of visual science, 4th ed)

  • Keratoconus

    a degenerative, structural disorder of the eye, characterized by a cone-shaped protrusion of the cornea. it may lead to visual disturbances.

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]

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye condition that affects the shape of the cornea, which is the clear outer covering of the eye. In this condition, the cornea thins and bulges outward, eventually resembling a cone shape. These corneal abnormalities, which worsen over time, can lead to nearsightedness (myopia), blurred vision that cannot be improved with corrective lenses (irregular astigmatism), and vision loss.

Other corneal changes typical of keratoconus that can be seen during an eye exam include iron deposits in the cornea that form a yellow-to-brownish ring, called the Fleischer ring, surrounding the colored part of the eye (iris). Affected individuals may also develop Vogt's striae, which are thin, vertical, white lines in the tissue at the back of the cornea.

Keratoconus may affect only one eye at first, but eventually the corneas of both eyes become misshapen, although they might not be affected with the same severity. As keratoconus worsens, people with this condition can develop corneal scarring, often caused by exposure of the abnormally thin cornea to prolonged contact lens use or excessive eye rubbing.

The eye changes characteristic of keratoconus typically begin in adolescence and slowly worsen until mid-adulthood at which point the shape of the cornea remains stable.


[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.