Paresis of accommodation, bilateral

This code signifies a bilateral impairment of the eye's ability to focus on near objects due to a weakness or partial paralysis of the ciliary muscle. This condition results in blurred vision for close-up tasks, despite the eye's ability to see distant objects clearly. It is distinct from presbyopia, which is an age-related hardening of the lens.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a bilateral paresis or partial paralysis of accommodation, often presenting as difficulty reading or performing other near work. This diagnosis is typically made after ruling out refractive errors and presbyopia, and may be associated with neurological conditions, certain medications, or trauma.

• Ensure documentation specifies "bilateral" involvement; otherwise, a unilateral code (H52.521 or H52.522) should be used.
• Differentiate from presbyopia (H52.4), which is a physiological aging process, not a paresis.
• Look for underlying causes documented, such as neurological disorders, and code them as primary if applicable.