2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H54.40Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H53-H54›H54

ICD-10-CM H54.40
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H54.40 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for blindness, one eye, unspecified eye. 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 blind hypertensive eye. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Blindness and vision defects.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H54.40
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye
Short Description
Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H54.4
Blindness, one eye

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH53-H54Visual disturbances and blindness
CategoryH54Blindness and low vision
This CodeH54.40Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Blind hypertensive eye
  • Pain in eye
  • Painful blind eye

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H54.40: its own notes plus those printed at H54 and Chapter 7. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From H54 Blindness and low vision applies to 44 codes

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.

From Chapter 7 (H00-H59) Diseases of the eye and adnexa applies to 2,677 codes
  • 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)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

From H54 Blindness and low vision applies to 44 codes
  • any associated underlying cause of the blindness

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From H54 Blindness and low vision applies to 44 codes
  • For definition of visual impairment categories see table below
From Chapter 7 (H00-H59) Diseases of the eye and adnexa applies to 2,677 codes
  • 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.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name H54.40, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention H54.40.

  • Z82.1 Family history of blindness and visual loss
    Conditions classifiable to H54.- names H54.-, which includes this code

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming H54.40: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H54.8 Legal blindness, as defined in USA
    legal blindness with specification of impairment level (H54.0-H54.7) names H54.0-H54.7, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and H54.40 is one of the codes named.

  • S04.0 Injury of optic nerve and pathways
    code to identify any visual field defect or blindness (H53.4-, H54.-) names H54.-, which includes this code

Notes 1

These notes mention H54.40.

  • H54.8 Legal blindness, as defined in USA
    The term 'low vision' in category H54 comprises categories 1 and 2 of the table, the term 'blindness' categories 3, 4 and 5, and the term 'unqualified visual loss' category 9. names H54, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

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

  • Blindness

    the inability to see or the loss or absence of perception of visual stimuli. this condition may be the result of eye diseases; optic nerve diseases; optic chiasm diseases; or brain diseases affecting the visual pathways or occipital lobe.

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 H54.40 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
369.02 One eye-near tot/oth-NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
369.05 One eye-profound/oth-NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
369.60 Blindness, one eye
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
369.61 One eye-total/oth-unknwn
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
369.64 One eye-near tot/oth-NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
369.66 Near-total impair/normal
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
369.67 One eye-prfound/oth-unkn
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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H54.40Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for blindness, one eye, unspecified eye?

The ICD-10-CM code for blindness, one eye, unspecified eye is H54.40 (sometimes written as H5440). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is H54.40 (Blindness, one eye) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report blindness, one eye, unspecified eye on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does H54.40 group to?

When blindness, one eye, unspecified eye 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 H54.40 be reported with G45.3?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at H54, which applies to H54.40, lists "amaurosis fugax (G45.3)". 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 coded first with H54.40?

The Code First note at H54, which applies to H54.40, reads: any associated underlying cause of the blindness. When one of these applies, it is sequenced before H54.40.