Diplopia

This code represents diplopia, commonly known as double vision, where a single object is perceived as two images. This visual disturbance can be monocular (affecting one eye) or binocular (affecting both eyes), and may be horizontal, vertical, or oblique. It indicates a symptom rather than a definitive diagnosis.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states the patient presents with or is diagnosed with double vision. This symptom often warrants further investigation to determine the underlying etiology, such as cranial nerve palsies, strabismus, or neurological conditions. Supporting documentation should include the patient's complaint of seeing double.

• Always seek to code the underlying cause of the diplopia if known and documented, as diplopia is a symptom.
• Do not confuse with blurred vision or amblyopia; diplopia specifically refers to seeing two distinct images.
• Consider sequencing this code as a secondary diagnosis when a definitive cause is identified and coded as the primary diagnosis.