Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Question: When we prescribe new eyeglasses only, should we use a diagnosis of 368.8? What if we didn't prescribe anything? Oklahoma Subscriber Answer: Code 368.8 (Visual disturbances; other specified visual disturbances) is a symptom code for blurred vision. You should use a symptom code only if the patient reports the complaint, you document it, and you do not have a definitive diagnosis at the end of the examination. If no medical condition exists and the patient simply wanted new glasses, report the diagnosis for the refractive error (367.x, Disorders of refraction and accommodation) and not the symptom with the appropriate office-visit (99201-99215) or eye code (92002-92014). Most medical insurance plans would not cover the service. A vision plan would cover such a service if it was rendered within the allowable time frame (e.g., once a year, or once every two years). A patient with no vision plan is responsible for the charges.