Congenital glaucoma

This diagnosis code signifies a group of rare, inherited eye conditions characterized by abnormal development of the eye's drainage system, leading to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) at birth or shortly thereafter. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve, potentially causing vision loss or blindness if not promptly treated. It encompasses various forms of primary congenital glaucoma, including primary infantile glaucoma and primary juvenile glaucoma.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of congenital glaucoma, primary infantile glaucoma, or primary juvenile glaucoma. This applies to newborns, infants, and children presenting with signs of elevated IOP, optic nerve damage, or characteristic corneal changes (e.g., buphthalmos, corneal edema) due to a developmental anomaly of the anterior chamber angle. Supporting documentation should include ophthalmological examination findings, tonometry readings, and genetic testing results if performed.

• Differentiate from secondary congenital glaucoma, which arises from other underlying conditions (e.g., aniridia, Sturge-Weber syndrome) and requires a different code.
• Ensure the documentation specifies "congenital" or "primary" to avoid confusion with adult-onset primary open-angle glaucoma.
• If laterality is documented (e.g., right eye, left eye, bilateral), use the appropriate laterality sub-code.