Superficial injury of cornea

This code describes a non-penetrating injury to the outermost layer of the eye, the cornea. This typically involves abrasions, foreign bodies on the surface, or minor chemical irritations that do not extend beyond the corneal epithelium.

Use this code for diagnoses such as corneal abrasion, superficial foreign body of the cornea (without penetration), or chemical conjunctivitis/keratitis limited to the corneal surface. Documentation should clearly state "superficial," "abrasion," or "foreign body on cornea" without mention of penetration or deeper involvement.

• Differentiate from deeper corneal injuries (e.g., lacerations, perforations) which require different codes.
• If a foreign body is removed, code the foreign body diagnosis first, followed by the appropriate procedure code.
• Ensure documentation specifies the laterality (e.g., right, left, bilateral) if not already included in the code.