2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H49.20Sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H49-H52›H49

ICD-10-CM H49.20
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H49.20 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as abducens nerve disorder. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neuro-ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H49.20
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye
Short Description
Sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H49.2
Sixth [abducent] nerve palsy

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH49-H52Disorders of ocular muscles, binocular movement, accommodation and refraction
CategoryH49Paralytic strabismus
This CodeH49.20Sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abducens nerve disorder
  • Abducens nerve palsy
  • Abducens nerve weakness
  • Abnormal nervous system function
  • Congenital sixth nerve palsy
  • Cranial nerves three, four and six abnormal
  • Fourth cranial nerve finding
  • Nuclear abducens nerve palsy
  • Sixth cranial nerve finding
  • Third cranial nerve finding

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EYE006
Neuro-ophthalmology
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR EYE007
Strabismus
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Patient EducationClinical

Eye Movement Disorders

When you look at an object, you're using several muscles to move both eyes to focus on it. If you have a problem with the muscles, the eyes don't work properly.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert H49.20 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
378.54 Sixth nerve palsy
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 H49.20Overview

Is H49.20 (Sixth [abducent] nerve palsy) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H49.20?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, sixth [abducent] nerve palsy, unspecified eye converts to ICD-9-CM 378.54 (sixth nerve palsy). 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.