Skip to main content

H16.251 vs H16.259

H16.251 (Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, right eye) compared with H16.259 (Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, unspecified eye), from the official CMS tabular data. H16.251 and H16.259 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

H16.251
Right
Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, right eye
H16.259
Unspecified
Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, unspecified eye

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. H16.251 and H16.259 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

H16.251Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, right eyeH16.259Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, unspecified eye
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationH00-H59 — Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59)H00-H59 — Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59)
DefinitionPhlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, right eye is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H16.251).Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, unspecified eye is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H16.259).

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources