Optometry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: What is the proper ICD-9 code for patients with blepharitis?

Tennessee Subscriber

Answer: It depends on the type of blepharitis. For these patients, choose from one of the following diagnoses depending on the encounter notes:

- 373.00 -- Blepharitis, unspecified

- 373.01 -- Ulcerative blepharitis

- 373.02-- Squamous blepharitis

Also: When selecting one of the above diagnoses, be sure your optometrist is treating a patient with blepharitis, not blepharoconjunctivitis.

If notes indicate the patient had blepharoconjunctivitis, choose one of the following ICD-9 codes:

- 372.20 -- Blepharoconjunctivitis, unspecified

- 372.21 -- Angular blepharoconjunctivitis

- 372.22 -- Contact blepharoconjunctivitis.