Chapter VII - Diseases of the eye and adnexa

Question 1

DCS.VII.1

Which type of cataract must be coded to category H25.- Senile cataract?

Answer 1

Age-related cataracts

Question 2

How should mature, advanced or white cataracts be coded?

Answer 2

H26.9 Cataract, unspecified

Question 3

What does the term glaucoma mean?

Answer 3

Raised intraocular pressure

Question 4

How should the severity of visual impairment table at H54 be used by the coder?

Answer 4

It must not be used by the coder to diagnose levels of visual impairment. It is the responsibilty of the responsible consultant to provide the information.

Question 5

If a patient is documented as blind/visually impaired and the cause is known, how should this be sequenced?
What is the exception to this?

Answer 5

1. Code for the cause of visual impairment/blindness
2. H54.- Visual impairment including blindness (binocular or monocular)

Exception = G45.3 Amaurosis fugax (no additional code is required to show the visual impairment H54.)

Question 6

If a patient is registered blind and no detail is given about the level of visual impairment (eg. severe, moderate, mild), how should this be coded?

Answer 6

Either:
1. H54.0 Blindness, binocular (if unspecified or stated as both eyes)
2. H54.4 Blindness, monocular (if stated to be of only one eye)

Question 7

Should all cataracts in elderly patients be coded as senile cataracts?

Answer 7

No - the consultant must state the term senile or age related to assign H25.- Senile cataract. The coder should not assume that the cataract is senile by the age of the patient.

Question 8

If a diabetic patient also has cataracts how should this be coded?

Answer 8

A link must be made for the dagger and asterisks combination to be used. If not link is made, the conditions must be coded seperately.