Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
New Blepharitis Codes Keep a Lid on Eyelid Conditions
In 2015, many diagnosis codes will specify which eye — and which lid.
In an earlier Ophthalmology Coding Alert, we looked at how the diagnosis codes for the “Other disorders of eyelid” category would change once ICD-9 converts to ICD-10 effective Oct. 1, 2015. This time, we’ll examine the changes to another specific category of eyelid diagnoses: blepharitis.
Background: In ICD-10, eye codes have been expanded to increase anatomic specificity and add the concept of laterality. Many of the codes include right, left, bilateral and unspecified eye. If the option of “bilateral” is not available, and the condition is present in both eyes, it is correct to assign the code for right and left. However, if a code exists for bilateral, that should be assigned, not right and left eye, says Caral Edelberg, CPC, CPMA, CAC, CCS-P, CHC, AHIMA Certified ICD-10 Instructor and President, Edelberg Compliance Associates.
The ICD-10 codes for blepharitis (H01.0--) will specify not only the particular kind of blepharitis (squamous, ulcerative or unspecified) and which eye is affected, but also which particular eyelid is affected.
Learn more: For more information on the ICD-10 conversion, as well as specific ICD-9 to ICD-10 code bridges, visit https://www.aapc.com/codes/. 
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