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  2. ICD-10-CM Codes List
  3. H00–H59
  4. H53-H54
  5. Blindness and low vision (H54)

Blindness and low vision (H54)

The ICD-10-CM codes in section H54 cover various types of blindness and low vision conditions, including total blindness in both eyes, blindness in one eye with low vision in the other, and different categories of visual impairment severity. These codes are essential to specify the degree and laterality of vision loss.

The section includes detailed codes for blindness in both eyes (H54.0), blindness with low vision in the other eye (H54.1), and low vision affecting one or both eyes (H54.2, H54.5). It also addresses unqualified visual loss (H54.3 and H54.6) and unspecified visual loss (H54.7). The codes distinguish levels of blindness by categories (e.g., category 3, 4, or 5) and specify laterality (right or left eye), which aids precision in diagnosis and billing. Synonyms like "legal blindness" correspond to H54.8, helping both medical coders and clinicians identify conditions recognized legally in the United States. For example, the ICD-10 code for blindness in one eye with normal vision in the other eye is H54.41. This section provides a comprehensive framework for reporting vision impairments, facilitating accurate clinical documentation and healthcare management.

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00–H59)

    • Visual disturbances and blindness (H53-H54)

        • Blindness and low vision (H54)

        • H54 Blindness and low vision
        • H54.0 Blindness, both eyes
        • H54.0X Blindness, both eyes, different category levels
        • H54.0X3 Blindness right eye, category 3
        • 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 4
        • 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 5
        • 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 eye
        • H54.10 Blindness, one eye, low vision other eye, unspecified eyes
        • H54.11 Blindness, right eye, low vision left eye
        • H54.113 Blindness right eye category 3, low vision left eye
        • 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 eye
        • 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 eye
        • 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 eye
        • H54.121 Low vision right eye category 1, blindness left eye
        • 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 eye
        • 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 eyes
        • H54.2X Low vision, both eyes, different category levels
        • H54.2X1 Low vision, right eye, category 1
        • 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 2
        • 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 eye
        • H54.40 Blindness, one eye, unspecified eye
        • H54.41 Blindness, right eye, normal vision left eye
        • H54.413 Blindness, right eye, category 3
        • H54.413A Blindness right eye category 3, normal vision left eye
        • H54.414 Blindness, right eye, category 4
        • H54.414A Blindness right eye category 4, normal vision left eye
        • H54.415 Blindness, right eye, category 5
        • H54.415A Blindness right eye category 5, normal vision left eye
        • H54.42 Blindness, left eye, normal vision right eye
        • H54.42A Blindness, left eye, category 3-5
        • 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 eye
        • H54.50 Low vision, one eye, unspecified eye
        • H54.51 Low vision, right eye, normal vision left eye
        • H54.511 Low vision, right eye, category 1
        • H54.511A Low vision right eye category 1, normal vision left eye
        • H54.512 Low vision, right eye, category 2
        • H54.512A Low vision right eye category 2, normal vision left eye
        • H54.52 Low vision, left eye, normal vision right eye
        • H54.52A Low vision, left eye, category 1-2
        • 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 eye
        • 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

Instructional Notations

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.

  • For definition of visual impairment categories see table below