Trib rtnl vein occlusion, bilateral, with macular edema

This code describes a condition where a smaller vein branching off the main retinal vein in both eyes becomes blocked, leading to swelling in the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. This occlusion disrupts blood flow, causing fluid leakage and subsequent macular edema, impacting visual acuity.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a tributary (branch) retinal vein occlusion affecting both eyes, and macular edema is present. This typically occurs in patients presenting with bilateral vision loss or distortion attributed to this specific vascular event. Supporting documentation should include ophthalmological examination findings confirming the occlusion and the presence of macular edema.

• Ensure documentation specifies "tributary" or "branch" vein occlusion, not central retinal vein occlusion.
• Verify that the occlusion is explicitly stated as bilateral and that macular edema is also present.
• Do not use this code if the laterality is unspecified or if macular edema is not documented.