Central corneal opacity, bilateral

This code signifies a clouding or opacification located in the central part of the cornea, affecting both eyes. This condition can impair vision by obstructing light from reaching the retina. It may result from various causes, including trauma, infection, or congenital anomalies.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states a central corneal opacity is present in both eyes. This is appropriate for conditions like bilateral central corneal scars, dystrophies, or other lesions that specifically affect the central visual axis of the cornea in both eyes.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "central" and "bilateral" to accurately assign this code.
• Distinguish from peripheral corneal opacities (H17.0-) or unspecified locations (H17.8-).
• Code any underlying cause of the opacity (e.g., trauma, infection) as a primary or secondary diagnosis, as appropriate.