2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H53.19Other subjective visual disturbances

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H53-H54›H53

ICD-10-CM H53.19
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H53.19 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other subjective visual disturbances. 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. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Blindness and vision defects.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H53.19
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other subjective visual disturbances
Short Description
Other subjective visual disturbances
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H53.1
Subjective visual disturbances

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH53-H54Visual disturbances and blindness
CategoryH53Visual disturbances
This CodeH53.19Other subjective visual disturbances

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bilateral scotoma of eyes
  • Bilateral vitreous flashes
  • Dysphotopsia
  • Entoptic phenomenon
  • Erythropsia
  • Eye strain
  • Eye strain of left eye
  • Lights or colors in visual field
  • Photopsia
  • Photopsia of left eye
  • Photopsia of right eye
  • Scintillating scotoma
  • Scintillating scotoma of bilateral eyes
  • Scintillating scotoma of left eye
  • Scintillating scotoma of right eye
  • Seeing spots in front of eyes
  • Sees colors in visual field
  • Sees flashes
  • Sees flickering lights
  • Sees haloes around lights
  • Sees haloes around objects
  • Sees lights in visual field
  • Sees rainbows
  • Sees rays
  • Sees sparks
  • Sound-induced photism
  • Visual halos
  • Visual perceptual weakness
  • Xanthopsia

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Visual halos

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.

    • Disturbance(s)
      • vision, visual
        • subjective
          • specified type NEC
    • Halo, visual
    • Photopsia
    • Vision, visual
      • halos

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

  • Flasher|Flashers|Flashing lights|Photopsia

    the perception of sudden or brief bursts (flashes) of light.

  • Photopsia

    the perception of flashes of light.

  • Flashing Lights, Ped-PRO-CTCAE|Flashing lights|Ped-PRO-CTCAE, Flashing Lights|Photopsia, Ped-PRO-CTCAE

    photopsia as recorded on the ped-pro-ctcae questionnaire.

  • Flashing Lights, PRO-CTCAE|Flashing lights|PRO-CTCAE, Flashing Lights|Photopsia, PRO-CTCAE

    photopsia as recorded on the pro-ctcae questionnaire.

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 H53.19 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
368.15 Visual distortions NEC
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 H53.19Overview

Is H53.19 (Subjective visual disturbances) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does H53.19 group to?

When other subjective visual disturbances 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 H53.19?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other subjective visual disturbances converts to ICD-9-CM 368.15 (visual distortions NEC). 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.