2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H49.33Total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H49-H52›H49

ICD-10-CM H49.33
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H49.33 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as bilateral total ophthalmoplegia. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neuro-ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H49.33
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral
Short Description
Total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H49.3
Total (external) ophthalmoplegia

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH49-H52Disorders of ocular muscles, binocular movement, accommodation and refraction
CategoryH49Paralytic strabismus
This CodeH49.33Total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bilateral total ophthalmoplegia
  • External ophthalmoplegia of bilateral eyes
  • External ophthalmoplegia of left eye
  • External ophthalmoplegia of right eye
  • Total ophthalmoplegia
  • Total ophthalmoplegia of left eye
  • Total ophthalmoplegia of right eye

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 H49.33 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
378.56 Total ophthalmoplegia
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 H49.33Overview

Is H49.33 (Total (external) ophthalmoplegia) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H49.33?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, total (external) ophthalmoplegia, bilateral converts to ICD-9-CM 378.56 (total ophthalmoplegia). 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.