Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H17.9

Unspecified corneal scar and opacity

ICD-10-CM Code:: H17.9
ICD-10 Code for:: Unspecified corneal scar and opacity
Is Billable?: Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: ^[1]: Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Information
Approximate Synonyms
Clinical Classification
Clinical Information
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
Index to Diseases and Injuries References
Diagnostic Related Groups Mapping
Convert to ICD-9 Code
Patient Education
Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
Code History

Code Classification

Diseases of the eye and adnexa
(H00–H59)
- Disorders of sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body
  (H15-H22)
  - Corneal scars and opacities
    (H17)

H17.9 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of unspecified corneal scar and opacity. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H17.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Bilateral leukoma of cornea of eyes
Corneal haze due to herpes simplex
Corneal haze due to herpes zoster
Corneal keloid
Corneal leukoma
Corneal opacity
Corneal scar
Corneal scars and opacities
Corneal stromal opacities
Corneal subepithelial haze
Corneal subepithelial scar
Irregular corneal stromal opacities
Leukoma of cornea of left eye
Leukoma of cornea of right eye
Opacity of cornea of bilateral eyes
Opacity of cornea of left eye
Opacity of cornea of right eye
Post-herpetic corneal scar
Post-surgical corneal haze
Post-traumatic corneal opacity
Regular corneal stromal opacities
Scar of cornea of bilateral eyes
Scar of cornea of left eye
Scar of cornea of right eye

Clinical Classification

Clinical Category is Cornea and external disease
CCSR Category Code: EYE001
Inpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Outpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Clinical Information

Corneal Opacity
disorder occurring in the central or peripheral area of the cornea. the usual degree of transparency becomes relatively opaque.
Corneal Scar
replacement of corneal tissue with scar tissue as a result of injury to the deeper layers of the cornea.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

- Cicatrix (adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious) - See Also: Scar; - L90.5
- - cornea - H17.9

- Scar, scarring - See Also: Cicatrix; - L90.5
- - cornea - H17.9

H17.9 is grouped with Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping

Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a classification system used to group together diagnosis codes for the purpose of reimbursement and healthcare management. DRGs are used to standardize the way hospitals and other providers are paid for inpatient services. In this system patients are grouped together based on their principal diagnosis in areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). Once a patient is assigned a particular diagnostic category, providers receive a predetermined payment rate for the services rendered. This reimbursement rate is often fixed and is meant to cover the cost of care for that patient. Reimbursement is also affected by the relative weight of a diagnostic related group based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.

Diagnostic related groups encourage healthcare providers to focus on quality and efficiency in patient care while managing costs effectively. The diagnosis code is present in the following groups for version MS-DRG V41.0 applicable from 10/01/2023 through 09/30/2024.

MS-DRG	MS-DRG Title	MCD	Relative Weight
124	OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITH MCC OR THROMBOLYTIC AGENT	02	1.3219
125	OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITHOUT MCC	02	0.7975

The relative weight of a diagnostic related group determines the reimbursement rate based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.

Convert H17.9 to ICD-9-CM

ICD-9-CM Code: 371.00 - Corneal opacity NOS
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education

Corneal Disorders

Your cornea is the outermost layer of your eye. It is clear and shaped like a dome. The cornea helps to shield the rest of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful matter. It also helps your eye to focus. If you wear contact lenses, they float on top of your corneas.

Problems with the cornea include:

Refractive errors
Allergies
Infections
Injuries
Dystrophies - conditions in which parts of the cornea lose clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material

Treatments of corneal disorders include medicines, corneal transplantation, and corneal laser surgery.

NIH: National Eye Institute

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.