H53.149 ICD-10-CM Code: Visual discomfort, unspecified
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FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59) / Visual disturbances and blindness (H53-H54)
H53.149
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceVisual discomfort, unspecified
A patient experiences eye discomfort or strain that cannot be more specifically identified or classified. This is used when the exact cause or type of visual discomfort is unknown or not documented.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
00
RAF 0
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
00
RAF 0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Asthenopia
- Photophobia
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for H53.149 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for H53.149 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for H53.149 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for H53.149 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for H53.149 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for H53.149 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is H53.149 an HCC code?
No. H53.149 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.
This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).
What This Code Means
H53.149 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for visual discomfort, unspecified. A patient experiences eye discomfort or strain that cannot be more specifically identified or classified. This is used when the exact cause or type of visual discomfort is unknown or not documented. H53.149 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the eye and adnexa (h00-h59), within the section covering visual disturbances and blindness (h53-h54).
H53.149 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.
Use this code only when the provider documents visual discomfort but does not specify the cause (such as eye strain, photophobia, or asthenopia); if a specific type is documented, use a more specific H53.14x code.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for H53.149 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when the provider documents visual discomfort but does not specify the cause (such as eye strain, photophobia, or asthenopia); if a specific type is documented, use a more specific H53.14x code
- •Query the provider if additional documentation is available, as this unspecified code may indicate incomplete documentation that could affect reimbursement or clinical clarity