Visual disturbances (H53)
ICD-10 code section H53 covers a broad range of visual disturbances, providing specific codes for different types of vision problems such as amblyopia, diplopia, color vision deficiencies, and various visual field defects. These codes are essential for accurately documenting conditions affecting sight that do not fit into other disease categories.
This section includes detailed subcodes that identify the particular type and eye affected, such as H53.001 for amblyopia of the right eye and H53.123 for transient visual loss in both eyes. Synonyms like "Strabismic amblyopia" or "Eye strain" help medical coders link common terms to precise ICD-10 codes. For instance, "day blindness" corresponds to H53.11, while "color blindness" maps to various codes including H53.50 and H53.51. This coding section also classifies subjective symptoms such as visual discomfort, visual distortions, or diplopia (double vision), aiding clinicians in specifying the diagnosis. Accurate use of ICD-10 codes from H53 ensures proper reporting of visual system abnormalities, making these codes a key reference for eye-related disorders not caused by other eye diseases.
- H53 - Visual disturbances
- H53.0 - Amblyopia ex anopsia
- H53.00 - Unspecified amblyopia
- H53.01 - Deprivation amblyopia
- H53.02 - Refractive amblyopia
- H53.03 - Strabismic amblyopia
- H53.04 - Amblyopia suspect
- H53.1 - Subjective visual disturbances
- H53.12 - Transient visual loss
- H53.13 - Sudden visual loss
- H53.14 - Visual discomfort
- H53.3 - Other and unspecified disorders of binocular vision
- H53.4 - Visual field defects
- H53.41 - Scotoma involving central area
- H53.42 - Scotoma of blind spot area
- H53.43 - Sector or arcuate defects
- H53.45 - Other localized visual field defect
- H53.46 - Homonymous bilateral field defects
- H53.48 - Generalized contraction of visual field
- H53.5 - Color vision deficiencies
- H53.6 - Night blindness
- H53.7 - Vision sensitivity deficiencies
Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00–H59)
Visual disturbances and blindness (H53-H54)
H53 Visual disturbances
H53.0 Amblyopia ex anopsia
H53.00 Unspecified amblyopia
- H53.001 Unspecified amblyopia, right eye
- H53.002 Unspecified amblyopia, left eye
- H53.003 Unspecified amblyopia, bilateral
- H53.009 Unspecified amblyopia, unspecified eye
H53.01 Deprivation amblyopia
- H53.011 Deprivation amblyopia, right eye
- H53.012 Deprivation amblyopia, left eye
- H53.013 Deprivation amblyopia, bilateral
- H53.019 Deprivation amblyopia, unspecified eye
H53.02 Refractive amblyopia
- H53.021 Refractive amblyopia, right eye
- H53.022 Refractive amblyopia, left eye
- H53.023 Refractive amblyopia, bilateral
- H53.029 Refractive amblyopia, unspecified eye
H53.03 Strabismic amblyopia
- H53.031 Strabismic amblyopia, right eye
- H53.032 Strabismic amblyopia, left eye
- H53.033 Strabismic amblyopia, bilateral
- H53.039 Strabismic amblyopia, unspecified eye
H53.04 Amblyopia suspect
- H53.041 Amblyopia suspect, right eye
- H53.042 Amblyopia suspect, left eye
- H53.043 Amblyopia suspect, bilateral
- H53.049 Amblyopia suspect, unspecified eye
H53.1 Subjective visual disturbances
- H53.10 Unspecified subjective visual disturbances
- H53.11 Day blindness
H53.12 Transient visual loss
- H53.121 Transient visual loss, right eye
- H53.122 Transient visual loss, left eye
- H53.123 Transient visual loss, bilateral
- H53.129 Transient visual loss, unspecified eye
H53.13 Sudden visual loss
- H53.131 Sudden visual loss, right eye
- H53.132 Sudden visual loss, left eye
- H53.133 Sudden visual loss, bilateral
- H53.139 Sudden visual loss, unspecified eye
H53.14 Visual discomfort
- H53.141 Visual discomfort, right eye
- H53.142 Visual discomfort, left eye
- H53.143 Visual discomfort, bilateral
- H53.149 Visual discomfort, unspecified
- H53.15 Visual distortions of shape and size
- H53.16 Psychophysical visual disturbances
- H53.19 Other subjective visual disturbances
- H53.2 Diplopia
H53.3 Other and unspecified disorders of binocular vision
- H53.30 Unspecified disorder of binocular vision
- H53.31 Abnormal retinal correspondence
- H53.32 Fusion with defective stereopsis
- H53.33 Simultaneous visual perception without fusion
- H53.34 Suppression of binocular vision
H53.4 Visual field defects
- H53.40 Unspecified visual field defects
H53.41 Scotoma involving central area
- H53.411 Scotoma involving central area, right eye
- H53.412 Scotoma involving central area, left eye
- H53.413 Scotoma involving central area, bilateral
- H53.419 Scotoma involving central area, unspecified eye
H53.42 Scotoma of blind spot area
- H53.421 Scotoma of blind spot area, right eye
- H53.422 Scotoma of blind spot area, left eye
- H53.423 Scotoma of blind spot area, bilateral
- H53.429 Scotoma of blind spot area, unspecified eye
H53.43 Sector or arcuate defects
- H53.431 Sector or arcuate defects, right eye
- H53.432 Sector or arcuate defects, left eye
- H53.433 Sector or arcuate defects, bilateral
- H53.439 Sector or arcuate defects, unspecified eye
H53.45 Other localized visual field defect
- H53.451 Other localized visual field defect, right eye
- H53.452 Other localized visual field defect, left eye
- H53.453 Other localized visual field defect, bilateral
- H53.459 Other localized visual field defect, unspecified eye
H53.46 Homonymous bilateral field defects
- H53.461 Homonymous bilateral field defects, right side
- H53.462 Homonymous bilateral field defects, left side
- H53.469 Homonymous bilateral field defects, unspecified side
- H53.47 Heteronymous bilateral field defects
H53.48 Generalized contraction of visual field
- H53.481 Generalized contraction of visual field, right eye
- H53.482 Generalized contraction of visual field, left eye
- H53.483 Generalized contraction of visual field, bilateral
- H53.489 Generalized contraction of visual field, unspecified eye
H53.5 Color vision deficiencies
- H53.50 Unspecified color vision deficiencies
- H53.51 Achromatopsia
- H53.52 Acquired color vision deficiency
- H53.53 Deuteranomaly
- H53.54 Protanomaly
- H53.55 Tritanomaly
- H53.59 Other color vision deficiencies
H53.6 Night blindness
- H53.60 Unspecified night blindness
- H53.61 Abnormal dark adaptation curve
- H53.62 Acquired night blindness
- H53.63 Congenital night blindness
- H53.69 Other night blindness
H53.7 Vision sensitivity deficiencies
- H53.71 Glare sensitivity
- H53.72 Impaired contrast sensitivity
- H53.8 Other visual disturbances
- H53.9 Unspecified visual disturbance
Visual disturbances (H53)
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Afterimage
Continuation of visual impression after cessation of stimuli causing the original image.
Amblyopia
A nonspecific term referring to impaired vision. Major subcategories include stimulus deprivation-induced amblyopia and toxic amblyopia. Stimulus deprivation-induced amblyopia is a developmental disorder of the visual cortex. A discrepancy between visual information received by the visual cortex from each eye results in abnormal cortical development. STRABISMUS and REFRACTIVE ERRORS may cause this condition. Toxic amblyopia is a disorder of the OPTIC NERVE which is associated with ALCOHOLISM, tobacco SMOKING, and other toxins and as an adverse effect of the use of some medications.
Cone Dystrophy
A general term which describes a group of rare eye disorders that affect the cone cells of the RETINA. Cone dystrophy can cause a variety of symptoms including decreased visual clarity or acuity when looking straight ahead (central vision), a reduced ability to see colors, and an increased sensitivity to light (PHOTOPHOBIA).
Diplopia
A visual symptom in which a single object is perceived by the visual cortex as two objects rather than one. Disorders associated with this condition include REFRACTIVE ERRORS; STRABISMUS; OCULOMOTOR NERVE DISEASES; TROCHLEAR NERVE DISEASES; ABDUCENS NERVE DISEASES; and diseases of the BRAIN STEM and OCCIPITAL LOBE.
Night Blindness
Failure or imperfection of vision at night or in dim light, with good vision only on bright days. (Dorland, 27th ed)
Photophobia
Abnormal sensitivity to light. This may occur as a manifestation of EYE DISEASES; MIGRAINE; SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE; MENINGITIS; and other disorders. Photophobia may also occur in association with DEPRESSION and other MENTAL DISORDERS.
Toxic Optic Neuropathy
Damage to the eye or its function (e.g., VISUAL IMPAIRMENT) due to OPTIC NERVE damage secondary to toxic substances such as drugs used in CHEMOTHERAPY; IMMUNOTHERAPY; or RADIATION.
