Retinal artery branch occlusion, bilateral

This code signifies a blockage in a smaller artery supplying blood to the retina in both eyes. This occlusion restricts blood flow, potentially leading to vision loss in the affected areas of the retina. It is a form of retinal ischemia affecting the branch vessels rather than the central retinal artery.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) affecting both the right and left eyes. Supporting documentation should include ophthalmological examination findings, such as funduscopic evidence of retinal whitening along the distribution of a branch artery, and potentially fluorescein angiography results.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "bilateral" involvement; otherwise, a unilateral code (H34.21- or H34.22-) or unspecified code (H34.20-) may be more appropriate.
• Distinguish between central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) (H34.1-) and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), as they are distinct conditions with different codes.
• Look for any associated underlying systemic conditions, such as atherosclerosis or emboli, which may require additional coding.