2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q15.0Congenital glaucoma

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q10-Q18›Q15

ICD-10-CM Q15.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q15.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital glaucoma. 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. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q15.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Congenital glaucoma
Short Description
Congenital glaucoma
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q15
Other congenital malformations of eye

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ10-Q18Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck
CategoryQ15Other congenital malformations of eye
This CodeQ15.0Congenital glaucoma

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q15.0 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Axenfeld anomaly
  • Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome
  • Bilateral glaucoma
  • Bilateral primary congenital glaucoma
  • Buphthalmos
  • Buphthalmos of bilateral eyes
  • Buphthalmos of left eye
  • Buphthalmos of right eye
  • Congenital anomaly of nasal sinuses
  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Congenital glaucoma of bilateral eyes
  • Congenital glaucoma of left eye
  • Congenital glaucoma of right eye
  • Congenital malformation of angle of anterior chamber of bilateral eyes
  • Congenital malformation of angle of anterior chamber of eye
  • Congenital malformation of angle of anterior chamber of left eye
  • Congenital malformation of angle of anterior chamber of right eye
  • Finding of size of globe
  • GEMSS syndrome
  • Glaucoma
  • Glaucoma of childhood
  • Glaucoma of left eye
  • Glaucoma of right eye
  • Globe of eye large
  • Irido-trabecular dysgenesis
  • Lentiglobus
  • Microcornea
  • Microcornea with glaucoma and absent frontal sinus syndrome
  • Microphakia
  • Microspherophakia
  • Nanophthalmia
  • Neonatal diabetes, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital glaucoma, hepatic fibrosis, polycystic kidney syndrome
  • Primary congenital glaucoma
  • Retinal degeneration, nanophthalmos, glaucoma syndrome
  • Spastic paraplegia, glaucoma, intellectual disability syndrome
  • Spherophakia

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Axenfeld's anomaly
  • Buphthalmos
  • Glaucoma of childhood
  • Glaucoma of newborn
  • Hydrophthalmos
  • Keratoglobus, congenital, with glaucoma
  • Macrocornea with glaucoma
  • Macrophthalmos in congenital glaucoma
  • Megalocornea with glaucoma

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.

    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • Axenfeld's
    • Atresia, atretic
      • iris, filtration angle
    • Axenfeld's
      • anomaly or syndrome
    • Buphthalmia, buphthalmos(congenital)
    • Glaucoma
      • childhood
    • Glaucoma
      • congenital
    • Glaucoma
      • infantile
    • Glaucoma
      • newborn
    • Hydrophthalmos
    • Keratoglobus
      • congenital
        • with glaucoma
    • Macrocornea
      • with glaucoma
    • Macrophthalmos
      • in congenital glaucoma
    • Megalocornea
      • with glaucoma

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL005
Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Exfoliation Syndrome

    the deposition of flaky, translucent fibrillar material most conspicuous on the anterior lens capsule and pupillary margin but also in both surfaces of the iris, the zonules, trabecular meshwork, ciliary body, corneal endothelium, and orbital blood vessels. it sometimes forms a membrane on the anterior iris surface. exfoliation refers to the shedding of pigment by the iris. (newell, ophthalmology, 7th ed, p380)

  • Glaucoma

    an ocular disease, occurring in many forms, having as its primary characteristics an unstable or a sustained increase in the intraocular pressure which the eye cannot withstand without damage to its structure or impairment of its function. the consequences of the increased pressure may be manifested in a variety of symptoms, depending upon type and severity, such as excavation of the optic disk, hardness of the eyeball, corneal anesthesia, reduced visual acuity, seeing of colored halos around lights, disturbed dark adaptation, visual field defects, and headaches. (dictionary of visual science, 4th ed)

  • Glaucoma Drainage Implants

    devices, usually incorporating unidirectional valves, which are surgically inserted in the sclera to maintain normal intraocular pressure.

  • Glaucoma, Angle-Closure

    a form of glaucoma in which the intraocular pressure increases because the angle of the anterior chamber is blocked and the aqueous humor cannot drain from the anterior chamber.

  • Glaucoma, Neovascular

    a form of secondary glaucoma which develops as a consequence of another ocular disease and is attributed to the forming of new vessels in the angle of the anterior chamber.

  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle

    glaucoma in which the angle of the anterior chamber is open and the trabecular meshwork does not encroach on the base of the iris.

  • Low Tension Glaucoma

    a form of glaucoma in which chronic optic nerve damage and loss of vision normally attributable to buildup of intraocular pressure occurs despite prevailing conditions of normal intraocular pressure.

  • Ocular Hypertension

    a condition in which the intraocular pressure is elevated above normal and which may lead to glaucoma.

  • Weill-Marchesani Syndrome

    rare congenital disorder of connective tissue characterized by brachydactyly, joint stiffness, childhood onset of ocular abnormalities (e.g., microspherophakia, ectopia lentis; glaucoma), and proportionate short stature. cardiovascular anomalies are occasionally seen.

  • Congenital Glaucoma

    glaucoma, the cause of which is present at birth.

  • Primary Congenital Glaucoma

    congenital glaucoma that arises independent of another pathologic process, disease, or injury.

  • Primary Congenital Glaucoma 3A|GLC3A

    an autosomal recessive form of congenital glaucoma caused by mutation(s) in the cyp1b1 gene, encoding cytochrome p450 1b1.

  • Bilateral Glaucoma

    increased pressure in both eyeballs due to obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor.

  • Microcornea

    a congenital abnormality characterized by an abnormally small cornea. the horizontal corneal diameter is less than 10mm or less than 9mm in newborns. it is associated with an increased risk of glaucoma.

  • Spherophakia

    a congenital disorder of the eye where the lens is abnormally small and spherical.

  • Weill-Marchesani Syndrome 1|Congenital Mesodermal Dysmorphodystrophy|Spherophakia-Brachymorphia Syndrome|Spherophakia-brachymorphia syndrome|Weill-Marchesani, Autosomal Recessive

    an autosomal recessive subtype of weill-marchesani syndrome caused by mutations in the adamts10 gene, encoding a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 10.

Patient EducationClinical

Birth Defects

A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother's body. Most birth defects happen during the first 3 months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.

The full article covers:

  • What are birth defects?
  • What causes birth defects?
  • Who is at risk of having a baby with birth defects?
  • How are birth defects diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for birth defects?
  • Can birth defects be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Q15.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
365.14 Glaucoma of childhood
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
743.20 Buphthalmos NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
743.21 Simple buphthalmos
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
743.22 Buphthal w oth eye anom
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
743.44 Anom anter chamber-eye
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 Q15.0Overview

Is Q15.0 (Other congenital malformations of eye) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q15.0 group to?

When congenital glaucoma 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.

Is Q15.0 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for congenital glaucoma on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q15.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, congenital glaucoma converts to ICD-9-CM 365.14 (glaucoma of childhood), 743.20 (buphthalmos NOS), and 743.21 (simple buphthalmos). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.