2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H26.9Unspecified cataract

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H25-H28›H26

ICD-10-CM H26.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H26.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified cataract. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Cataract and other lens disorders.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H26.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified cataract
Short Description
Unspecified cataract
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H26
Other cataract

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH25-H28Disorders of lens
CategoryH26Other cataract
This CodeH26.9Unspecified cataract

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anterior capsular cataract
  • Anterior cataract
  • Autosomal dominant optic atrophy and cataract
  • Bilateral cataracts
  • Cardiomyopathy with cataract and hip spine disease syndrome
  • Cataract
  • Cataract maturity - finding
  • Cataract of left eye
  • Cataract of left eye present
  • Cataract of lens capsule of bilateral eyes
  • Cataract of lens capsule of left eye
  • Cataract of lens capsule of right eye
  • Cataract of right eye
  • Cataract of right eye present
  • Cataract present
  • Cataract, growth hormone deficiency, sensory neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, skeletal dysplasia syndrome
  • Cochleosaccular degeneration and cataract syndrome
  • Cupuliform cataract
  • Dominant hereditary optic atrophy
  • Early opacity of lens
  • Hereditary growth hormone deficiency
  • Hereditary sensory neuropathy
  • Hypertrophic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy
  • Hypertrophic mitochondrial cardiomyopathy associated with cataracts and lactic acidosis
  • Immature cataract
  • Inherited cochlear degeneration
  • Interlenticular opacification
  • Lens capsule clarity in pseudophakia - finding
  • Lens capsule in pseudophakia finding
  • Lens capsule opacity in pseudophakia
  • Malfunction of intraocular lens
  • Microcornea, rod-cone dystrophy, cataract, posterior staphyloma syndrome
  • Non age-related cataract of bilateral eyes
  • Non age-related cataract of left eye
  • Non age-related cataract of right eye
  • Nonsenile cataract
  • Opacification of intraocular lens
  • P3H2 gene related high myopia, cataract, vitreoretinal degeneration
  • Partial cataract
  • Rare isolated myopia
  • Severe neurodevelopmental disorder with feeding difficulties, stereotypic hand movement, bilateral cataract
  • Spontaneous reabsorption of cataract
  • Stationary cataract
  • Total cataract of lens of bilateral eyes
  • Total cataract of lens of left eye
  • Total cataract of lens of right eye

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H26.9: its own notes plus those printed at H26 and Chapter 7. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From H26 Other cataract applies to 69 codes
  • congenital cataract (Q12.0)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 7 (H00-H59) Diseases of the eye and adnexa applies to 2,677 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • diabetes mellitus related eye conditions (E09.3-, E10.3-, E11.3-, E13.3-)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury (trauma) of eye and orbit (S05.-)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
  • syphilis related eye disorders (A50.01, A50.3-, A51.43, A52.71)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 7 (H00-H59) Diseases of the eye and adnexa applies to 2,677 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the eye condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the eye condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EYE002
Cataract and other lens disorders
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Cataract

    partial or complete opacity on or in the lens or capsule of one or both eyes, impairing vision or causing blindness. the many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). (dorland, 27th ed)

Patient EducationClinical

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. This cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, making it harder to see clearly. A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it doesn't spread from one eye to the other.

The full article covers:

  • What are cataracts?
  • What causes cataracts?
  • Who is more likely to develop cataracts?
  • What are the symptoms of cataracts?
  • How are cataracts diagnosed?
  • How are cataracts treated?
  • Can cataracts be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert H26.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
366.9 Cataract NOS
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H26.9Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified cataract?

The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified cataract is H26.9 (sometimes written as H269). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is H26.9 (Other cataract) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified cataract on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does H26.9 group to?

When unspecified cataract is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 125, 124, with relative weights from 0.7699 to 1.2470 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can H26.9 be reported with Q12.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at H26, which applies to H26.9, lists "congenital cataract (Q12.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H26.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified cataract converts to ICD-9-CM 366.9 (cataract NOS). The mapping is a direct match.