Secondary corneal edema, bilateral

This code signifies swelling of the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, that is not the primary disease but rather a consequence of another underlying ocular or systemic condition. It indicates that both eyes are affected by this secondary corneal swelling.

Use this code when documentation specifies corneal edema in both eyes, and the physician identifies it as secondary to another condition, such as glaucoma, uveitis, or following intraocular surgery. The medical record should clearly state the secondary nature and bilateral involvement.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "secondary" and "bilateral" to support this specific code.
• Always code the underlying primary condition causing the corneal edema first, as this is a manifestation code.
• Differentiate from primary corneal edema (e.g., Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy) which has different code assignments.