Visual disturbances (H53) ICD-10-CM
The H53 code range covers visual disturbances with 106 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 84 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Codes in the H53 Range 106 codes · 84 billable
- H53 Visual disturbancesNon-billable
- H53.0 Amblyopia ex anopsiaNon-billable
- H53.00 Unspecified amblyopiaNon-billable
- 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 amblyopiaNon-billable
- 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 amblyopiaNon-billable
- 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 amblyopiaNon-billable
- 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 suspectNon-billable
- 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 disturbancesNon-billable
- H53.10 Unspecified subjective visual disturbances
- H53.11 Day blindness
- H53.12 Transient visual lossNon-billable
- 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 lossNon-billable
- 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 discomfortNon-billable
- 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 visionNon-billable
- 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 defectsNon-billable
- H53.40 Unspecified visual field defects
- H53.41 Scotoma involving central areaNon-billable
- 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 areaNon-billable
- 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 defectsNon-billable
- 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 defectNon-billable
- 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 defectsNon-billable
- 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 fieldNon-billable
- 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 deficienciesNon-billable
- 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 blindnessNon-billable
- 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 deficienciesNon-billable
- H53.71 Glare sensitivity
- H53.72 Impaired contrast sensitivity
- H53.8 Other visual disturbances
- H53.9 Unspecified visual disturbance
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the H53 range.
Achromatopsia
Severely deficient color perception, typically with monochromacy and reduced visual acuity. The atypical form can include normal visual acuity with pseudomonochromacy.
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.
Color Vision Defects
Defects of color vision are mainly hereditary traits but can be secondary to acquired or developmental abnormalities in the CONES (RETINA). Severity of hereditary defects of color vision depends on the degree of mutation of the ROD OPSINS genes (on X CHROMOSOME and CHROMOSOME 3) that code the photopigments for red, green and blue.
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.
Hemianopsia
Partial or complete loss of vision in one half of the visual field(s) of one or both eyes. Subtypes include altitudinal hemianopsia, characterized by a visual defect above or below the horizontal meridian of the visual field. Homonymous hemianopsia refers to a visual defect that affects both eyes equally, and occurs either to the left or right of the midline of the visual field. Binasal hemianopsia consists of loss of vision in the nasal hemifields of both eyes. Bitemporal hemianopsia is the bilateral loss of vision in the temporal fields. Quadrantanopsia refers to loss of vision in one quarter of the visual field in one or both eyes.
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.
Visual Discomfort
Adverse effects experienced with normal viewing, which may include eye strain, blurred vision, and diplopia.
Visual Disturbance
An interference to normal eyesight.
About the H53 Code Range
Visual disturbances interfere with normal eyesight. These codes distinguish changes in sight, vision using both eyes, and sensitivity to color or light.
H53.0 groups amblyopia by named type, unspecified type, or suspected status. H53.1 includes day blindness, visual loss, discomfort, and distortions. H53.2 identifies double vision, while H53.3 groups disorders of vision using both eyes.
H53.4 separates visual field defects by the area affected or the pattern of loss. H53.5 groups color vision deficiencies by type. H53.6 distinguishes acquired from congenital night blindness. H53.7 separates glare sensitivity from impaired contrast sensitivity. H53.8 and H53.9 identify other and unspecified visual disturbances.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the H53 range?
Of the 106 codes in this range, 84 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 H53 range classify?
The range classifies visual disturbances. 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.
