2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H46.8Other optic neuritis

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H46-H47›H46

ICD-10-CM H46.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H46.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other optic neuritis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as autoimmune optic neuropathy. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neuro-ophthalmology.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H46.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other optic neuritis
Short Description
Other optic neuritis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H46
Optic neuritis

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH46-H47Disorders of optic nerve and visual pathways
CategoryH46Optic neuritis
This CodeH46.8Other optic neuritis

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Autoimmune optic neuropathy
  • Disorder of cranial nerve caused by ionizing radiation
  • Disorder of optic nerve caused by radiation
  • Infiltrative optic neuropathy
  • Inherited optic neuropathy
  • Neuropathy caused by ionizing radiation
  • Optic neuropathy due to and following radiotherapy

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.

    • Neuritis(rheumatoid)
      • optic (nerve) (hereditary) (sympathetic)
        • specified type NEC

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

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

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Optic Neuritis

    inflammation of the optic nerve. commonly associated conditions include autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, infections, and granulomatous diseases. clinical features include retro-orbital pain that is aggravated by eye movement, loss of color vision, and contrast sensitivity that may progress to severe visual loss, an afferent pupillary defect (marcus-gunn pupil), and in some instances optic disc hyperemia and swelling. inflammation may occur in the portion of the nerve within the globe (neuropapillitis or anterior optic neuritis) or the portion behind the globe (retrobulbar neuritis or posterior optic neuritis).

  • Multiple Sclerosis

    an autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. the usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see multiple sclerosis, chronic progressive) also occur. (adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p903)

  • Grade 1 Optic Neuritis, CTCAE

    asymptomatic or mild symptoms; only enhancement on mri scan with no change in vision

  • Grade 2 Optic Neuritis, CTCAE

    treatment indicated; best corrected visual acuity 20/40 and better or 3 lines or less decreased vision from known baseline in the affected eye; limiting instrumental adl or mild/moderate impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Grade 3 Optic Neuritis, CTCAE

    severe or medically significant but not immediately sight-threatening; 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) in the affected eye; oral steroids indicated; limiting self-care adl or severe impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Grade 4 Optic Neuritis, CTCAE

    sight-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated; best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the affected eye: significant visual field loss; marked optic disc edema or enhancement on mri scan; intravenous steroids indicated; blindness

  • Optic Neuritis, CTCAE

    a disorder characterized by inflammation and demyelination of the optic nerve that causes acute, usually monocular, visual loss.

  • Optic Neuritis

    a disorder characterized by inflammation of the optic nerve. causes include autoimmune disorders, infections, toxins, drugs, and multiple sclerosis. it may manifest with acute loss of vision and pain.

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 H46.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
377.39 Optic neuritis NEC
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About H46.8Overview

Is H46.8 (Optic neuritis) a billable code?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H46.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other optic neuritis converts to ICD-9-CM 377.39 (optic neuritis NEC). The mapping is a direct match.

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.