In simple words: This code describes the long-term effects due to a foreign object that was once present in the cornea of an eye, but the eye's location (left or right) isn't specified.

Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, sequela

Example 1: A patient presents with corneal scarring and vision impairment several months after a metal fragment was removed from their cornea. The initial injury was coded as T15.00XA or T15.01XA/T15.02XA (depending on which eye). Now, the sequela (scarring/vision impairment) is coded as T15.00XS or T15.01XS/T15.02XS., A patient was previously treated for a corneal foreign body, and now reports recurrent corneal erosions and pain. They may now have recurrent corneal erosion syndrome due to their injury. Now, the sequela (recurrent erosions/pain) is coded as T15.00XS or T15.01XS/T15.02XS., A patient who had a corneal foreign body removed now has a corneal ulcer at the site of the original injury. The ulcer is now coded with a separate code for the specific type of corneal ulcer, and T15.00XS or T15.01XS/T15.02XS is used to indicate the history of the foreign body and that the current ulcer is a sequela of the original injury.

Documentation should clearly indicate the original foreign body injury and the current condition as a late effect/sequela of that injury. Specific details about the sequelae, such as vision impairment, scarring, or recurrent erosions, should be documented.

** Excludes1: birth trauma (P10-P15), obstetric trauma (O70-O71). Excludes2: foreign body accidentally left in operation wound (T81.5-), foreign body in penetrating wound - See open wound by body region, residual foreign body in soft tissue (M79.5), splinter, without open wound - See superficial injury by body region. Use additional code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-). Use additional code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-).