1. ICD-10-CM Codes
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2. H00-H59 Diseases of the eye and adnexa
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3. H46-H47 Disorders of optic nerve and visual pathways
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4. H46- Optic neuritis
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5. 2021 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H46.9

2021 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H46.9

Unspecified optic neuritis

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Billable/Specific Code

• H46.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
• The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM H46.9 became effective on October 1, 2020.
• This is the American ICD-10-CM version of H46.9 - other international versions of ICD-10 H46.9 may differ.

• Bilateral optic neuritis
• Bilateral optic neuropathy
• Left optic neuritis
• Left optic neuropathy
• Optic neuritis
• Right optic neuritis
• Right optic neuropathy

• A disorder characterized by inflammation of the optic nerve. Causes include autoimmune disorders, infections, toxins, drugs, and multiple sclerosis. It may manifest with acute loss of vision and pain.
• Inflammation of the optic nerve. Commonly associated conditions include autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, infections, and granulomatous diseases. Clinical features include retro-orbital pain that is aggravated by eye movement, loss of color vision, and contrast sensitivity that may progress to severe visual loss, an afferent pupillary defect (marcus-gunn pupil), and in some instances optic disc hyperemia and swelling. Inflammation may occur in the portion of the nerve within the globe (neuropapillitis or anterior optic neuritis) or the portion behind the globe (retrobulbar neuritis or posterior optic neuritis).
• Inflammation of the second cranial nerve or optic nerve; commonly associated conditions include autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, infections, and granulomatous diseases.
• What: optic neuritis. Optic neuritis: the inflammation, degeneration, or demyelination of the optic nerve. Why: optic neuritis may be present in patients with sarcoidosis or reiter's syndrome (rarely). How: clinically, patients with optic neuritis present with sudden loss of central vision and pain on moving the eye. Opthalmoscopically there may be hyperemia of the optic disc and distention of the large retinal veins. At later stages the disk margins are blurred and may be slightly elevated simulating papilledema. Refs: vaugn, d and asbury, t: general ophthamology, 8th edition, 1977.

• 123 Neurological eye disorders

Convert H46.9 to ICD-9-CM

• 2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
• 2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
• 2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
• 2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
• 2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change
• 2021 (effective 10/1/2020): No change

• Neuritis (rheumatoid) M79.2
  ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M79.2

  Neuralgia and neuritis, unspecified

  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Billable/Specific Code

  Type 1 Excludes

  • brachial radiculitis NOS (M54.1)
  • lumbosacral radiculitis NOS (M54.1)
  • mononeuropathies (G56-G58)
  • radiculitis NOS (M54.1)
  • sciatica (M54.3-M54.4)
  • optic (nerve) (hereditary) (sympathetic) H46.9

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.