2025 ICD-10-CM code H50.4
Other and unspecified heterotropia. This code encompasses various forms of heterotropia that are not classified under other specific H50 categories.
Medical necessity for services related to H50.4 should be established by documenting the impact of the heterotropia on the patient's visual function, daily activities, and overall quality of life.The documentation should support the need for the specific treatment recommended, whether it be corrective lenses, eye exercises, surgery, or other interventions.
Diagnosis and management of H50.4 typically falls under the purview of ophthalmologists or optometrists. They are responsible for accurately diagnosing the specific type of heterotropia, assessing the degree of misalignment, identifying any underlying causes, and recommending appropriate treatment strategies, which may include corrective lenses, eye exercises, or surgery.
In simple words: This code refers to a type of eye misalignment called "heterotropia," commonly known as "crossed eyes" or "wandering eye," where the eyes don't look in the same direction.This specific code is used when the misalignment doesn't fit into other more specific types of strabismus.
This ICD-10-CM code represents a diagnosis of heterotropia, a condition where the eyes do not properly align with each other.It is used for cases that don't fit into the more specific heterotropia categories like esotropia, exotropia, vertical strabismus, or intermittent heterotropia.It includes conditions like concomitant strabismus NOS, cyclotropia, microtropia, and monofixation syndrome.
Example 1: A 5-year-old child presents with a noticeable inward turning of one eye that is not intermittent and does not fit the criteria for other specified types of esotropia. After a comprehensive eye exam, the ophthalmologist diagnoses the child with concomitant strabismus NOS and uses H50.4., An adult patient experiences double vision and difficulty with depth perception. Upon examination, a slight upward deviation of one eye (hypertropia) is noted, but the condition is not consistent with other specific vertical strabismus classifications. The diagnosis of unspecified heterotropia is coded as H50.4., An individual with a history of eye trauma now experiences difficulty coordinating eye movements, resulting in a small-angle misalignment (microtropia).Since the misalignment is specifically microtropia, it falls under the unspecified category H50.4.
Documentation should include a detailed description of the eye misalignment, including the direction of the deviation, frequency and duration of the misalignment (if intermittent), any associated symptoms (e.g., double vision, blurred vision, eye strain), results of visual acuity tests, and any relevant medical history or prior treatments.Ophthalmological examination findings, including measurements of the deviation angle, should also be documented.
** Excludes2: nystagmus and other irregular eye movements (H55)
- Specialties:Ophthalmology, Optometry
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Inpatient Hospital