Blindness and low vision (H54) ICD-10-CM
The H54 code range covers blindness and low vision with 76 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 44 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Code First
Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
- any associated underlying cause of the blindness
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- amaurosis fugax G45.3
- For definition of visual impairment categories see table below
Codes in the H54 Range 76 codes · 44 billable
- H54 Blindness and low visionNon-billable
- H54.0 Blindness, both eyesNon-billable
- H54.0X Blindness, both eyes, different category levelsNon-billable
- H54.0X3 Blindness right eye, category 3Non-billable
- H54.0X33 Blindness right eye category 3, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.0X34 Blindness right eye category 3, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.0X35 Blindness right eye category 3, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.0X4 Blindness right eye, category 4Non-billable
- H54.0X43 Blindness right eye category 4, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.0X44 Blindness right eye category 4, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.0X45 Blindness right eye category 4, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.0X5 Blindness right eye, category 5Non-billable
- H54.0X53 Blindness right eye category 5, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.0X54 Blindness right eye category 5, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.0X55 Blindness right eye category 5, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.1 Blindness, one eye, low vision other eyeNon-billable
- H54.10 Blindness, one eye, low vision other eye, unspecified eyes
- H54.11 Blindness, right eye, low vision left eyeNon-billable
- H54.113 Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eyeNon-billable
- H54.1131 Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.1132 Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.114 Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eyeNon-billable
- H54.1141 Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.1142 Blindness right eye category 4, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.115 Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eyeNon-billable
- H54.1151 Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.1152 Blindness right eye category 5, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.12 Blindness, left eye, low vision right eyeNon-billable
- H54.121 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eyeNon-billable
- H54.1213 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.1214 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.1215 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.122 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eyeNon-billable
- H54.1223 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 3
- H54.1224 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 4
- H54.1225 Low vision right eye category 2, blindness left eye category 5
- H54.2 Low vision, both eyesNon-billable
- H54.2X Low vision, both eyes, different category levelsNon-billable
- H54.2X1 Low vision, right eye, category 1Non-billable
- H54.2X11 Low vision right eye category 1, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.2X12 Low vision right eye category 1, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.2X2 Low vision, right eye, category 2Non-billable
- H54.2X21 Low vision right eye category 2, low vision left eye category 1
- H54.2X22 Low vision right eye category 2, low vision left eye category 2
- H54.3 Unqualified visual loss, both eyes
- H54.4 Blindness, one eyeNon-billable
- H54.40 Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye
- H54.41 Blindness, right eye, normal vision left eyeNon-billable
- H54.413 Blindness, right eye, category 3Non-billable
- H54.413A Blindness right eye category 3, normal vision left eye
- H54.414 Blindness, right eye, category 4Non-billable
- H54.414A Blindness right eye category 4, normal vision left eye
- H54.415 Blindness, right eye, category 5Non-billable
- H54.415A Blindness right eye category 5, normal vision left eye
- H54.42 Blindness, left eye, normal vision right eyeNon-billable
- H54.42A Blindness, left eye, category 3-5Non-billable
- H54.42A3 Blindness left eye category 3, normal vision right eye
- H54.42A4 Blindness left eye category 4, normal vision right eye
- H54.42A5 Blindness left eye category 5, normal vision right eye
- H54.5 Low vision, one eyeNon-billable
- H54.50 Low vision, one eye, unspecified eye
- H54.51 Low vision, right eye, normal vision left eyeNon-billable
- H54.511 Low vision, right eye, category 1Non-billable
- H54.511A Low vision right eye category 1, normal vision left eye
- H54.512 Low vision, right eye, category 2Non-billable
- H54.512A Low vision right eye category 2, normal vision left eye
- H54.52 Low vision, left eye, normal vision right eyeNon-billable
- H54.52A Low vision, left eye, category 1-2Non-billable
- H54.52A1 Low vision left eye category 1, normal vision right eye
- H54.52A2 Low vision left eye category 2, normal vision right eye
- H54.6 Unqualified visual loss, one eyeNon-billable
- H54.60 Unqualified visual loss, one eye, unspecified
- H54.61 Unqualified visual loss, right eye, normal vision left eye
- H54.62 Unqualified visual loss, left eye, normal vision right eye
- H54.7 Unspecified visual loss
- H54.8 Legal blindness, as defined in USA
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the H54 range.
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.
Vision, Low
Vision considered to be inferior to normal vision as represented by accepted standards of acuity, field of vision, or motility. Low vision generally refers to visual disorders that are caused by diseases that cannot be corrected by refraction (e.g., MACULAR DEGENERATION; RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA; DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, etc.).
About the H54 Code Range
Blindness and low vision affect one or both eyes. These codes also include visual loss without further qualification and legal blindness as defined in the USA.
For both eyes, H54.0 identifies blindness, H54.2 low vision, and H54.3 unqualified visual loss. Subdivisions under blindness and low vision also distinguish different category levels between the eyes.
For one eye, the subdivisions distinguish blindness, low vision, or unqualified visual loss. They further separate right from left and identify low or normal vision in the other eye where specified. H54.7 identifies unspecified visual loss; H54.8 identifies legal blindness as defined in the USA.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the H54 range?
Of the 76 codes in this range, 44 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the H54 range classify?
The range classifies blindness and low vision. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
