H16.329

What This Code Means

This code describes inflammation of the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) that is spread throughout its layers, but the specific eye affected is not documented. This condition causes corneal clouding and can affect vision.

Coding Tips

• •Always attempt to determine which eye is affected (right, left, or bilateral) and use the appropriate 7th character code (1 for right eye, 2 for left eye, 3 for bilateral) rather than defaulting to unspecified (9)
• •Investigate the underlying cause of the keratitis, as diffuse interstitial keratitis is often associated with syphilis, Lyme disease, or other systemic infections, and code the etiology when documented