ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for cornea ulcer
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › cornea”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding cornea ulcer
The ICD-10-CM code for cornea ulcer is H16.00 (Unspecified corneal ulcer). The official index lists 9 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on H16.00.
Within H16.0, choose H16.00 (Unspecified corneal ulcer) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: central corneal ulcer (H16.01), ring corneal ulcer (H16.02), with hypopyon (H16.03), marginal corneal ulcer (H16.04), Mooren's corneal ulcer (H16.05), mycotic corneal ulcer (H16.06) and perforated corneal ulcer (H16.07).
To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: H16.001 (right eye), H16.002 (left eye), H16.003 (bilateral) and H16.009 (unspecified eye).
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
More specific cornea ulcer codes (official index)
- with hypopyon H16.03 — Corneal ulcer with hypopyon
- central H16.01 — Central corneal ulcer
- dendritic (herpes simplex) B00.52 — Herpesviral keratitis
- marginal H16.04 — Marginal corneal ulcer
- Mooren's H16.05 — Mooren's corneal ulcer
- mycotic H16.06 — Mycotic corneal ulcer
- perforated H16.07 — Perforated corneal ulcer
- ring H16.02 — Ring corneal ulcer
- tuberculous (phlyctenular) A18.52 — Tuberculous keratitis
Common questions about cornea ulcer ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for cornea ulcer?
- H16.00 — Unspecified corneal ulcer (a header code; report a more specific subcode). More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: H16.03, H16.01, B00.52, H16.04 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for central cornea ulcer?
- H16.01 — Central corneal ulcer (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for dendritic cornea ulcer?
- B00.52 — Herpesviral keratitis.
What is the ICD-10 code for marginal cornea ulcer?
- H16.04 — Marginal corneal ulcer (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for mooren's cornea ulcer?
- H16.05 — Mooren's corneal ulcer (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for mycotic cornea ulcer?
- H16.06 — Mycotic corneal ulcer (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for perforated cornea ulcer?
- H16.07 — Perforated corneal ulcer (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
Is H16.00 billable?
- No. H16.00 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.