2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H46.00Optic papillitis, unspecified eye

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H46-H47›H46

ICD-10-CM H46.00
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H46.00 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for optic papillitis, unspecified eye. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is flagged as an unspecified code, since codes identifying laterality exist in the same family. Coders also document this condition as optic papillitis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neuro-ophthalmology.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H46.00
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Optic papillitis, unspecified eye
Short Description
Optic papillitis, unspecified eye
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H46.0
Optic papillitis

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH46-H47Disorders of optic nerve and visual pathways
CategoryH46Optic neuritis
This CodeH46.00Optic papillitis, unspecified eye

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for H46.00.

Unspecified codes
Unspecified codes exist in the ICD-10-CM classification for circumstances when documentation in the medical record does not provide the level of detail needed to support reporting a more specific code. However, in the inpatient setting, there should generally be very limited and rare circumstances for which the laterality (right, left, bilateral) of a condition is unable to be documented and reported. The following pages contain the list of unspecified ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for which there is a more specific code to identify laterality (right, left, bilateral) within that code family.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Optic papillitis

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.

    • Papillitis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EYE006
Neuro-ophthalmology
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Optic Nerve Disorders

The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers that carry visual messages. You have one connecting the back of each eye (your retina) to your brain. Damage to an optic nerve can cause vision loss. The type of vision loss and how severe it is depends on where the damage occurs. It may affect one or both eyes.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert H46.00 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
377.31 Optic papillitis
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 H46.00Overview

Is H46.00 (Optic papillitis) a billable code?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H46.00?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, optic papillitis, unspecified eye converts to ICD-9-CM 377.31 (optic papillitis). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.