Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Evaluate your ICD-10 knowledge with this quick quiz.

You may find it challenging to select an ICD-10 code among the thousands of options in your coding manual, but the truth is that your claims success depends on the fact that you know these codes as well as you know those in CPT^®. After all, your diagnosis codes are what insurers use to confirm that your services were medically necessary, so your income depends on making sure your ICD-10 knowledge is top-notch.

Check out the following five ICD-10 coding questions and determine how you'd code these conditions, and then read the answers.

Bilateral Xanthelasma

Question 1:  A 67-year-old female patient presents complaining of yellow-hued bumps on her upper eyelids. She reports that she has no other symptoms, but noticed the lumpy patches about a month ago while putting on eye makeup and, after tracking them, she noticed that they weren't getting any smaller. A history reveals that the patient has high cholesterol, and the physician diagnoses the patient with xanthelasma. How should you report this condition?

Blepharoconjunctivitis

Question 2: A 57-year-old male patient presents with an itchy, red, swollen left eye, which he reports has been so productive that it is sealed shut when he wakes up in the morning. On taking a history and performing an examination, the ophthalmologist notes that the patient has scaly, dry skin on his upper and lower left eyelids, and that his tear production is extremely low. He diagnoses the patient with blepharoconjunctivitis and prescribes eyelid scrubs and an antibiotic ointment. Which diagnosis code should you report for this encounter?

Keratoconus

Question 3: A 67-year-old female patient presents complaining of low vision, halos around automobile headlights when she's driving, and double vision, all affecting her right eye. Upon examination, the physician measures the cornea and compares it to previous corneal measurements. He diagnoses the patient with keratoconus. Which code should you report?

Age-Related Cataracts

Question 4: A 77-year-old patient presents for an eye exam. She reports that her vision has been steadily declining for the past few years, but she hasn't seen an eye specialist in at least a decade. The physician examines the patient and discovers that she has cortical age-related incipient cataracts in both eyes. Which code describes this condition?

Esotropia

Question 5: A six-year old patient presents with his mother for evaluation of strabismus. The physician examines the patient and performs a series of tests including the Hirschberg and Bruckner tests. The ophthalmologist diagnoses the patient with alternating estropia with a V pattern. Which code applies?