Regular astigmatism, bilateral

This code indicates a refractive error where the cornea or lens has an irregular curvature, causing light to focus unevenly on the retina. This results in blurred or distorted vision at all distances in both eyes. It specifically refers to astigmatism that has a consistent curvature across the affected meridian.

Use this code when documentation specifies regular astigmatism affecting both the right and left eyes. This diagnosis is typically made during a comprehensive eye examination, often confirmed by retinoscopy or autorefraction. The physician's notes should clearly state "regular astigmatism, bilateral."

• Differentiate from irregular astigmatism (H52.23-), which has a non-uniform curvature and is often associated with corneal disease.
• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "bilateral" to support the use of this code, rather than separate codes for each eye.
• Do not code if the astigmatism is secondary to another ocular condition; instead, code the underlying condition first.