H35.123

What This Code Means

This condition occurs in premature infants whose eyes did not develop normally due to high oxygen exposure in the neonatal period, resulting in abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina (back of the eye). Stage 1 is the mildest form of this eye disease, affecting both eyes.

Coding Tips

• •Always verify the stage (1-5) and laterality (unilateral vs bilateral) from the ophthalmology documentation, as these significantly affect code selection and severity assessment
• •This code requires documentation of prematurity history; link to the patient's birth weight and gestational age records to support medical necessity for treatment or monitoring