2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H53.143Visual discomfort, bilateral

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H53-H54›H53

ICD-10-CM H53.143
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H53.143 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for visual discomfort, bilateral. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. Coders also document this condition as bilateral visual discomfort. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Blindness and vision defects.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H53.143
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Visual discomfort, bilateral
Short Description
Visual discomfort, bilateral
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H53.14
Visual discomfort

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH53-H54Visual disturbances and blindness
CategoryH53Visual disturbances
This CodeH53.143Visual discomfort, bilateral

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bilateral visual discomfort
  • Visual discomfort
  • Visual discomfort of left eye
  • Visual discomfort of right eye

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EYE010
Blindness and vision defects
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Visual Discomfort

    adverse effects experienced with normal viewing, which may include eye strain, blurred vision, and diplopia.

Patient EducationClinical

Vision Impairment and Blindness

Vision impairment is the loss of vision. It includes blindness, which means that you have lost all or most of your sight. It also includes low vision, which means you have some vision, but the vision loss makes it hard to do everyday activities. You may have trouble reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV.

The full article covers:

  • What is vision impairment?
  • What causes vision impairment?
  • How is vision impairment diagnosed?
  • What are the types of low vision?
  • What are the treatments for low vision?
  • How can I make the most of my remaining sight?
  • Can vision impairment be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert H53.143 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
368.13 Visual discomfort
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 H53.143Overview

Is H53.143 (Visual discomfort) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does H53.143 group to?

When visual discomfort, bilateral is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 124, 125, with relative weights from 0.7678 to 1.3231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H53.143?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, visual discomfort, bilateral converts to ICD-9-CM 368.13 (visual discomfort). 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.