2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H53.15Visual distortions of shape and size
ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H53-H54›H53
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
H53.15 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for visual distortions of shape and size. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. Coders also document this condition as bilateral distortion of visual image of eyes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Blindness and vision defects.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Bilateral distortion of visual image of eyes
- Distortion of visual image of left eye
- Distortion of visual image of right eye
- Macropsia
- Macropsia due to organic disease
- Metamorphopsia
- Micropsia
- Micropsia due to organic disease
- Subjective visual disturbance of image size
- Visual distortion of perception of shape
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H53.15: its own notes plus those printed at H53.1 and Chapter 7. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Applicable To
Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.
- Metamorphopsia
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2
Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- diabetes mellitus related eye conditions (E09.3-, E10.3-, E11.3-, E13.3-)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury (trauma) of eye and orbit (S05.-)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- syphilis related eye disorders (A50.01, A50.3-, A51.43, A52.71)
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- Use an external cause code following the code for the eye condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the eye condition
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
visual See Also: Disturbance, vision;
shape and size H53.15
Disturbance (s) See Also: Disease;
Macropsia H53.15
Megalopsia H53.15
Metamorphopsia H53.15
Micropsia H53.15
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Visual Disturbance
an interference to normal eyesight.
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 H53.15 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About H53.15Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for visual distortions of shape and size?
The ICD-10-CM code for visual distortions of shape and size is H53.15 (sometimes written as H5315). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is H53.15 (Subjective visual disturbances) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report visual distortions of shape and size on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does H53.15 group to?
When visual distortions of shape and size is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 125, 124, with relative weights from 0.7699 to 1.2470 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can H53.15 be reported with E50.5?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at H53.1, which applies to H53.15, lists "subjective visual disturbances due to vitamin A deficiency (E50.5)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H53.15?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, visual distortions of shape and size converts to ICD-9-CM 368.14 (distortion of shape/size). The mapping is a direct match.
