2025 ICD-10-CM code A18.50
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis of eye Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99) Feed
Tuberculosis of the eye, unspecified. This code is used when the specific part of the eye affected by tuberculosis is not documented.
Medical necessity is established by the confirmed presence of tuberculosis affecting the eye. This can be confirmed through various tests and clinical findings.
Clinicians should evaluate patients for eyelid inflammation, granulomatous masses, and intraocular inflammation. Diagnosis often involves PCR, tuberculin skin tests, and patient history. Treatment includes antituberculous chemotherapy and steroids.
In simple words: This code signifies tuberculosis affecting the eye, but the specific location within the eye isn't known.
Tuberculosis of the eye is a rare extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) resulting from reactivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or, rarely, Mycobacterium bovis, or through direct inoculation of the eye. This code is used when the specific affected part of the eye is not specified.
Example 1: A patient presents with eye pain, redness, and blurred vision. After examination and testing (including a positive PCR test), they are diagnosed with tuberculosis of the eye, but the specific location is not identified.Code A18.50 is used., A patient with a history of TB presents with inflammation of the eyelid.Further investigation reveals TB infection of the eye, although the specific structure affected is unclear. A18.50 is assigned., A patient presents with a history of TB and now impaired vision.Following diagnostic tests, the physician confirms tuberculosis of the eye, but without specifying the affected component. Code A18.50 would be applicable in this scenario.
Documentation should include evidence of TB infection (e.g., positive PCR, skin test, history), clinical findings of eye involvement, and the specific part of the eye affected if known. If the affected part is not specified, A18.50 is applied.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Ophthalmology
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital