Find information on optic neuropathy diagnosis, including clinical documentation, ICD-10 codes (H47.2), medical coding, and healthcare resources. Learn about optic neuritis, optic nerve damage, visual field loss, and other related symptoms, causes, and treatments. This resource provides guidance for healthcare professionals on accurate coding and documentation of optic neuropathy in medical records. Explore the latest research and best practices for managing and diagnosing optic neuropathy.
Also known as
Optic neuritis
Inflammation of the optic nerve causing vision loss.
Papilledema
Swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure.
Ischemic optic neuropathy
Vision loss from reduced blood flow to the optic nerve.
Other disorders of optic nerve/visual pathways
Includes optic atrophy, toxic optic neuropathy, and other optic nerve issues.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the optic neuropathy traumatic?
Yes
Specify trauma type
No
Is it inflammatory?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Optic nerve damage causing vision loss |
| Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy |
| Papilledema |
Unspecified laterality (right, left, bilateral) can lead to claim denials and inaccurate data reporting. Ensure proper laterality coding for optic neuropathy.
Coding optic neuropathy without specifying the underlying cause (e.g., ischemic, toxic, hereditary) impacts reimbursement and quality metrics. Document and code etiology.
Miscoding atypical optic neuritis as typical optic neuritis can affect clinical documentation integrity and statistical analysis. Differentiate and code accurately.
Patient presents with complaints consistent with optic neuropathy. Symptoms include [Specify: e.g., vision loss, blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, visual field defects such as scotomas, color vision impairment, pain with eye movement]. Onset of symptoms was [Specify: e.g., gradual, sudden, intermittent] and began [Specify timeframe: e.g., two weeks ago, yesterday, over the past several months]. Patient denies [Specify negative symptoms: e.g., flashes, floaters, double vision]. Past medical history is significant for [Specify relevant comorbidities: e.g., diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, giant cell arteritis, Graves' disease, trauma]. Medications include [List all current medications]. Family history is [Positive/Negative] for optic nerve disorders. Ophthalmologic examination reveals [Specify findings: e.g., reduced visual acuity in the affected eye, afferent pupillary defect, optic disc swelling or pallor, visual field loss on Humphrey perimetry]. Intraocular pressure is [Specify: e.g., within normal limits, elevated]. Assessment: Optic neuropathy likely secondary to [Specify suspected etiology: e.g., ischemic optic neuropathy, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, compressive optic neuropathy, toxic optic neuropathy, inflammatory optic neuropathy, hereditary optic neuropathy]. Differential diagnoses include [Specify other potential diagnoses: e.g., glaucoma, retinal disease, intracranial mass]. Plan: [Specify diagnostic tests: e.g., blood work including complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, antinuclear antibody; neuroimaging such as MRI brain and orbits with contrast; visual evoked potentials]. Treatment will be initiated based on the underlying cause of the optic neuropathy. Patient education provided regarding the diagnosis, potential causes, and treatment options. Follow-up scheduled in [Specify timeframe: e.g., one week, two weeks] to review test results and discuss management plan.