Unspecified intermittent heterotropia

This code describes an ocular misalignment where the eyes intermittently deviate from parallel, but the specific type of deviation (e.g., esotropia, exotropia, hypertropia) is not documented. The "intermittent" aspect indicates that the misalignment is not constant, and "unspecified" means the direction of deviation is unknown or not recorded. This condition can lead to symptoms like diplopia or asthenopia.

Use this code when documentation indicates an intermittent heterotropia without specifying the direction of the deviation. This is appropriate when the ophthalmologist or optometrist notes an intermittent strabismus but does not further classify it as esotropia, exotropia, etc. It is supported by clinical notes describing intermittent ocular deviation without further specificity.

• Avoid using this code if the specific type of intermittent heterotropia (e.g., intermittent esotropia, H50.31-) is documented.
• Do not use for constant heterotropia (H50.0-H50.2) or intermittent heterophoria (H50.5-).
• Always seek clarification from the provider if the direction of deviation is known but not explicitly stated in the documentation.