Type 1 diab with severe nonp rtnop without mclr edema, unsp

This code signifies a patient diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes who has developed severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. This specific retinopathy stage is characterized by significant microvascular damage in the retina, but without the presence of macular edema, and the affected eye is not specified.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states Type 1 diabetes and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, explicitly noting the absence of macular edema. This is appropriate when the medical record does not specify laterality (left, right, or bilateral) for the retinopathy.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "severe nonproliferative" and "without macular edema" to differentiate from other retinopathy stages and complications.
• If laterality is documented (e.g., right eye, left eye, bilateral), a more specific code should be selected.
• Always sequence the diabetes code first, followed by codes for any associated complications like retinopathy.