2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H54.8Legal blindness, as defined in USA

ICD-10-CM Codes›H00–H59›H53-H54›H54

ICD-10-CM H54.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H54.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for legal blindness, as defined in USA. 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 blindness with AIDS. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Blindness and vision defects.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H54.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Legal blindness, as defined in USA
Short Description
Legal blindness, as defined in USA
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H54
Blindness and low vision

Code Classification

ChapterH00–H59Diseases of the eye and adnexa
SectionH53-H54Visual disturbances and blindness
CategoryH54Blindness and low vision
This CodeH54.8Legal blindness, as defined in USA

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Blindness with AIDS

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Blindness NOS according to USA definition

Type 1 Excludes

  • legal blindness with specification of impairment level H54.0 H54.7

  • The table below gives a classification of severity of visual impairment recommended by a WHO Study Group on the Prevention of Blindness, Geneva, 6-10 November 1972.
  • The term 'low vision' in category H54
  • If the extent of the visual field is taken into account, patients with a field no greater than 10 but greater than 5 around central fixation should be placed in category 3 and patients with a field no greater than 5 around central fixation should be placed in category 4, even if the central acuity is not impaired.

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.

    • Blindness(acquired) (congenital) (both eyes)
      • legal (both eyes) (USA definition)

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

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 H54.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
369.4 Legal blindness-usa def
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 H54.8Overview

Is H54.8 (Blindness and low vision) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report legal blindness, as defined in USA on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does H54.8 group to?

When legal blindness, as defined in USA 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 H54.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, legal blindness, as defined in USA converts to ICD-9-CM 369.4 (legal blindness-usa def). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.