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ICD-10 Coding for Left Eye Blindness(H54.42A3, H54.42A4)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Left Eye Blindness. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Monocular BlindnessUnilateral Blindness

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Left Eye Blindness

H54.4Primary Range

Blindness and low vision

This range includes codes for blindness in one eye with normal vision in the other.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
H54.42A3Blindness left eye category 3, normal vision right eyeUse when left eye blindness is confirmed with category 3 visual acuity.
  • Visual acuity ≤20/200 in left eye
  • Normal vision in right eye
H54.42A4Blindness left eye category 4, normal vision right eyeUse when left eye blindness is confirmed with category 4 visual acuity.
  • Visual acuity <20/1200 in left eye
  • Normal vision in right eye

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for left eye blindness

Essential facts and insights about Left Eye Blindness

The ICD-10 code for left eye blindness with normal vision in the right eye is H54.42A3 for category 3 and H54.42A4 for category 4.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for left eye blindness

Blindness left eye category 3, normal vision right eye
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Visual acuity and visual field testing results

Applicable To

  • Blindness in left eye with visual acuity <20/400 to ≥20/1200

Excludes

  • Blindness in both eyes

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Visual acuity ≤20/200 in left eye
  • Normal vision in right eye

Code-Specific Risks

  • Incorrect categorization of visual acuity can lead to coding errors.

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies the category of blindness and laterality.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy

E11.31
Use to indicate underlying cause of blindness.

Primary open-angle glaucoma, severe stage

H40.11X3
Use to indicate underlying cause of blindness.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Unqualified visual loss, one eye

H54.6
Use when specific category of blindness is not documented.

Unspecified visual loss

H54.7
Use when neither laterality nor category is documented.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Left Eye Blindness to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code H54.42A3.

Impact

Clinical: Leads to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment., Regulatory: Increases risk of audit and penalties., Financial: Potential loss of reimbursement.

Mitigation Strategy

Train staff on documentation standards., Use templates to ensure all required information is captured.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to reduced reimbursement rates., Compliance: Increases risk of audit and non-compliance., Data Quality: Decreases accuracy of health records.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation includes specific category and laterality to use precise codes like H54.42A3.

Impact

High audit risk when using codes like H54.7 without specific documentation.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation specifies category and laterality.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Left Eye Blindness, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Left Eye Blindness

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Left Eye Blindness. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Ophthalmology Progress Note

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Required Elements

  • Chief complaint
  • Visual acuity
  • Intraocular pressure
  • Slit lamp examination
  • Visual field testing

Example Documentation

**CC**: Left eye vision loss **Exam**: - VA: 20/400 OS, 20/20 OD - IOP: 14 mmHg OU - Slit Lamp: Optic pallor OS - Visual Field: 15° central OS (Humphrey 24-2) **Assessment**: - Category 4 blindness OS (H54.42A4) secondary to NAION - Plan: Low vision referral

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient reports left eye vision loss.
Good Documentation Example
Best-corrected visual acuity: 20/400 OS, 20/20 OD. Category 4 blindness confirmed via Humphrey visual field (≤20°).
Explanation
The good example provides specific visual acuity and field test results, allowing for precise coding.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Left Eye Blindness? Ask your questions below.

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