Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

 If your physician's notes puzzle you, check this chart to decipher them

We polled our experts and established a list of the most frequently documented abbreviations and acronyms that ophthalmology coders encounter. You can decipher your physician's notes a little easier if you use this listing of abbreviations and their meanings.

Acronym  & Definition

AACG  acute angle closure glaucoma
ABK  aphakic bullous keratopathy
abn  abnormal
ac   anterior chamber
adl  activities of daily living
aodm  adult onset diabetes mellitus
apct  alternate prism + cover test
apd  afferent papillary defect
arg  angle recession glaucoma
arn  acute retinal necrosis
arns  atropine retinoscopy
atr  against-the-rule astigmatism
ax or x axis of cylindric lens
barn  bilateral acute retinal necrosis
bd   base-down prism
bdr  background diabetic retinopathy
bp   blood pressure
brao  branch retinal artery occlusion
brvo  branch retinal vein occlusion
bs   blind spot
bsv  binocular single vision
Bx   biopsy
C or cyl cylindric lens, or cylinder
ca   cancer
cacg  chronic angle closure glaucoma
cat. ext.  cataract extraction
Cat-Trab combined cataract trabeculectomy
CAVK  computer assisted keratography
CBC  complete blood count
CC   chief complaint
CCI  Correct Coding Initiative
CE   cataract extraction
CIOM  closed intraocular microsurgery
CIS   carcinoma in situ
CL   contact lens
CME  cystoid macular edema
CMI  cytomegalic inclusion disease
CMV  cytomegalovirus
COAG  chronic open angle glaucoma
COMA  congenital oculomotor apraxia
Conj  conjunctive, conjunctival
CPC  central posterior curve
CPEO  chronic progressive external
   ophthalmoplegia
CRA  central retinal artery
CRV  central retinal vein
CSR  central serous (chorio) retinophathy
CV   color vision
D   diopter or distance vision
DCR  dacryocystorhinostomy
DD   optic disc diameter
DR   diabetic retinopathy
DUSN  diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis
DVM  optic disc, retinal vessels, and macula
Dx   diagnosis
ECCE  extracapsular cataract extraction
EKC  epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
EOG  electro-oculography
EOM  extraocular muscles or movements
ERG  electroretinography
Ex   examination
FB   foreign body
FFA  fundus fluorescein angiography
FH   family history
Fl   fluid
Fluoro  fluoroscopic guidance, fluoroscopy
FTSG  full-thickness skin graft
F/U   follow-up
H   hyperphoria
HT   hypertrophia
H&P  history and physical
HPI   history of present illness
Hx   history
I&D  incision and drainage, or irrigation and debridement
IOL  intraocular lens
IOP   intraocular pressure
JODM  juvenile onset diabetes mellitus
K   keratometry readings
KP   keratic precipitates
LP   light perception
LR   light reaction
M   manifest refraction, male
MIS  minimally invasive surgery
NV   near vision
OP (R or RE) oculus dexter (right eye)
OS (L or LE) oculus sinister (left eye)
OU   unitas (both eyes)
PD   interpupillary distance
PI   present illness
PRRE  pupils round, regular and equal
PT   physical therapy, or patient
Px   prognosis
R/O  rule out
ROS  review of systems
SB   scleral buckling procedure
SBV  single binocular vision
Sx   surgery, or symptoms
T   tension (intraocular pressure)
V or VA visual acuity
V   vessels or vitreous
VF   visual field
YAG  yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser