ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for cataract
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Cataract (cortical) (immature) (incipient)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding cataract
The ICD-10-CM code for cataract is H26.9 (Unspecified cataract). The official index lists 56 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on H26.9.
Within H26, choose H26.9 (Unspecified cataract) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: infantile and juvenile cataract (H26.0), traumatic cataract (H26.1), complicated cataract (H26.2), drug-induced cataract (H26.3), secondary cataract (H26.4) and other specified cataract (H26.8).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 124 (Other Disorders of the Eye with MCC or Thrombolytic Agent, relative weight 1.2471) and DRG 125 (Other Disorders of the Eye without MCC, relative weight 0.7702), in MDC 02 (Diseases and Disorders of the Eye), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
More specific cataract codes (official index)
- with
- neovascularization
- age-related
- anterior
- and posterior axial embryonal Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- pyramidal Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- associated with
- galactosemia E74.21 — Galactosemia
- myotonic disorders G71.19 — Other specified myotonic disorders
- blue Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- central Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- cerulean Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- complicated H26.20 — Unspecified complicated cataract
- with
- neovascularization H26.21 — Cataract with neovascularization
- ocular disorder H26.22 — Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory)
- glaucomatous flecks H26.23 — Glaucomatous flecks (subcapsular)
- congenital Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- coraliform Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- coronary Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- crystalline Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- diabetic
- drug-induced H26.3 — Drug-induced cataract
- due to
- ocular disorder
- radiation H26.8 — Other specified cataract
- electric H26.8 — Other specified cataract
- extraction status Z98.4 — Cataract extraction status
- glass-blower's H26.8 — Other specified cataract
- heat ray H26.8 — Other specified cataract
- heterochromic
- hypermature
- in (due to)
- chronic iridocyclitis
- diabetes
- endocrine disease E34.9 — Endocrine disorder, unspecified
- eye disease
- hypoparathyroidism E20.9 — Hypoparathyroidism, unspecified
- malnutrition-dehydration E46 — Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition
- metabolic disease E88.9 — Metabolic disorder, unspecified
- myotonic disorders G71.19 — Other specified myotonic disorders
- nutritional disease E63.9 — Nutritional deficiency, unspecified
- infantile
- irradiational
- juvenile
- malnutrition-dehydration E46 — Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition
- morgagnian
- myotonic G71.19 — Other specified myotonic disorders
- myxedema E03.9 — Hypothyroidism, unspecified
- nuclear
- embryonal Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
- sclerosis
- presenile H26.00 — Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract
- combined forms H26.06 — Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract
- cortical H26.01 — Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract
- lamellar
- nuclear H26.03 — Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract
- specified NEC H26.09 — Other infantile and juvenile cataract
- subcapsular polar (anterior) H26.04 — Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract
- posterior H26.05 — Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract
- zonular
- secondary H26.40 — Unspecified secondary cataract
- Soemmering's ring H26.41 — Soemmering's ring
- specified NEC H26.49 — Other secondary cataract
- to eye disease
- senile H25.9 — Unspecified age-related cataract
- brunescens
- combined forms H25.81 — Combined forms of age-related cataract
- coronary
- cortical H25.01 — Cortical age-related cataract
- hypermature
- incipient (mature) (total) H25.09 — Other age-related incipient cataract
- cortical
- subcapsular
- morgagnian type (hypermature) H25.2 — Age-related cataract, morgagnian type
- nuclear (sclerosis) H25.1 — Age-related nuclear cataract
- polar subcapsular (anterior) (posterior)
- punctate
- specified NEC H25.89 — Other age-related cataract
- subcapsular polar (anterior) H25.03 — Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract
- posterior H25.04 — Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract
- snowflake
- specified NEC H26.8 — Other specified cataract
- toxic
- traumatic H26.10 — Unspecified traumatic cataract
- localized H26.11 — Localized traumatic opacities
- partially resolved H26.12 — Partially resolved traumatic cataract
- total H26.13 — Total traumatic cataract
- zonular (perinuclear) Q12.0 — Congenital cataract
Common questions about cataract ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for cataract?
- H26.9 — Unspecified cataract. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: Q12.0, Q12.0, E74.21, G71.19 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for blue cataract?
- Q12.0 — Congenital cataract.
What is the ICD-10 code for central cataract?
- Q12.0 — Congenital cataract.
What is the ICD-10 code for cerulean cataract?
- Q12.0 — Congenital cataract.
What is the ICD-10 code for complicated cataract?
- H26.20 — Unspecified complicated cataract.
What is the ICD-10 code for congenital cataract?
- Q12.0 — Congenital cataract.
What is the ICD-10 code for coraliform cataract?
- Q12.0 — Congenital cataract.
Is H26.9 billable?
- Yes. H26.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can H26.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H26.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is H26.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. H26.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.