ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for retina degeneration
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Degeneration, degenerative › retina”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding retina degeneration
The ICD-10-CM code for retina degeneration is H35.9 (Unspecified retinal disorder). The official index lists 8 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on H35.9.
Within H35, choose H35.9 (Unspecified retinal disorder) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: background retinopathy and retinal vascular changes (H35.0), retinopathy of prematurity (H35.1), other non-diabetic proliferative retinopathy (H35.2), degeneration of macula and posterior pole (H35.3), peripheral retinal degeneration (H35.4), hereditary retinal dystrophy (H35.5), retinal hemorrhage (H35.6), separation of retinal layers (H35.7) and 1 more.
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 retina degeneration codes (official index)
- hereditary (cerebroretinal) (congenital) (juvenile) (macula) (peripheral) (pigmentary)
- Kuhnt-Junius H35.32 — Exudative age-related macular degeneration
- macula (cystic) (exudative) (hole) (nonexudative) (pseudohole) (senile) (toxic)
- peripheral H35.40 — Unspecified peripheral retinal degeneration
- lattice H35.41 — Lattice degeneration of retina
- microcystoid H35.42 — Microcystoid degeneration of retina
- paving stone H35.43 — Paving stone degeneration of retina
- secondary
- pigmentary H35.45 — Secondary pigmentary degeneration
- vitreoretinal H35.46 — Secondary vitreoretinal degeneration
- senile reticular H35.44 — Age-related reticular degeneration of retina
- pigmentary (primary)
- secondary
- posterior pole
Common questions about retina degeneration ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for retina degeneration?
- H35.9 — Unspecified retinal disorder. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: H35.32, H35.40, H35.41, H35.42 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for kuhnt-junius retina degeneration?
- H35.32 — Exudative age-related macular degeneration (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for peripheral retina degeneration?
- H35.40 — Unspecified peripheral retinal degeneration.
Is H35.9 billable?
- Yes. H35.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can H35.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H35.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is H35.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. H35.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.