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ICD-10 Coding for Eye Redness(H10.011, H57.89)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Eye Redness. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Red EyeOcular HyperemiaConjunctival Injection

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Eye Redness

H10-H11Primary Range

Disorders of conjunctiva

This range includes codes for various types of conjunctivitis, which are common causes of eye redness.

Other disorders of eye and adnexa

This range includes codes for symptoms like eye pain and non-specific red eye.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
H10.011Acute follicular conjunctivitis, right eyeUse when acute follicular conjunctivitis is diagnosed in the right eye.
  • Presence of follicles on conjunctival exam
  • Acute onset of symptoms
H57.89Other specified disorders of eye and adnexaUse when eye redness is present but no specific diagnosis is made.
  • General redness without specific diagnosis

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for eye redness

Essential facts and insights about Eye Redness

The ICD-10 code for unspecified eye redness is H57.89, but specific types like conjunctivitis have their own codes, such as H10.011 for acute follicular conjunctivitis.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for eye redness

Acute follicular conjunctivitis, right eye
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Presence of follicles and acute symptoms

documentation Criteria

  • Document laterality and type of conjunctivitis

Applicable To

  • Acute follicular conjunctivitis OD

Excludes

  • Chronic follicular conjunctivitis (H10.211)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Presence of follicles on conjunctival exam
  • Acute onset of symptoms

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if laterality is not documented

Coding Notes

  • Ensure laterality is documented to avoid unspecified coding.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Eye pain

H57.1
Use if the patient reports significant eye pain in addition to redness.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Acute bacterial conjunctivitis, right eye

H10.021
Requires positive bacterial culture and mucopurulent discharge.

Unspecified conjunctivitis

H10.9
Use when conjunctivitis is suspected but not specified.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Eye Redness to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code H10.011.

Impact

Clinical: Inaccurate diagnosis and treatment., Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards., Financial: Potential claim denials.

Mitigation Strategy

Use templates that prompt for discharge type.

Impact

Reimbursement: Potential denial of claims due to lack of specificity., Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 specificity requirements., Data Quality: Decreased accuracy in clinical data reporting.

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific conjunctivitis codes like H10.011 or H10.021 when applicable.

Impact

Using unspecified codes when specific codes are applicable.

Mitigation Strategy

Implement training on specific conjunctivitis codes.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Eye Redness, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Eye Redness

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Eye Redness. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Acute conjunctivitis evaluation

Specialty: Ophthalmology

Required Elements

  • Patient history
  • Visual acuity
  • Slit lamp examination
  • Discharge type
  • Pain assessment

Example Documentation

Patient presents with acute redness and discharge OD. VA 20/40 OD, 20/20 OS. Slit lamp shows follicles on conjunctiva OD.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Red eye present.
Good Documentation Example
Acute follicular conjunctivitis OD with follicles on exam.
Explanation
The good example specifies the type and laterality of conjunctivitis.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Eye Redness? Ask your questions below.

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