Ocular pain, unspecified eye

This code signifies non-specific pain experienced in the eye, without further detail regarding its cause, character, or laterality. It indicates a symptom of ocular discomfort that has not yet been definitively diagnosed or attributed to a specific underlying condition.

This code is appropriate when a patient presents with eye pain, and the provider's documentation does not specify the affected eye (e.g., "ocular pain" without "right" or "left"). It should be used when the etiology of the pain is unknown or not yet determined, and no more specific diagnosis code is available.

• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies the affected eye; instead, use H57.11 for right eye, H57.12 for left eye, or H57.13 for bilateral.
• Always query the provider for more specific information regarding the cause and laterality of the pain if possible, to allow for more precise coding.
• This code is a symptom code; always sequence it after a definitive diagnosis code if one is established and documented.