H44.2C ICD-10-CM Code: Degenerative myopia with retinal detachment

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for H44.2C in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on H44.2C itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for H44.2C

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code H44.2C

1. H44.2C is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

   ReviewH44.2C1, H44.2C2, H44.2C3, H44.2C9

   See the relationships section · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

2. H44.2C’s title joins a condition with an associated condition or complication. Confirm each component is documented. Where the classification presumes the link through the “with” convention, only a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it. A combination code is assigned only when it fully identifies the documented conditions; a required second code for the stage, type or manifestation is still reported when the notes ask for it (Guidelines I.B.9, I.A.15).

   Guide: Combination codes →

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath H44.2C?
   Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
   No → H44.2C cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

   ReviewH44.2C1, H44.2C2, H44.2C3, H44.2C9

Consider H44.2C. Then work the Use Additional Code note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

The associated condition or complication

Whether the associated condition the title names is documented; the “with” convention presumes some links, and a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it (Guidelines I.A.15).

The conditions the Use Additional Code note names

Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Official instructions as workflow

• Use Additional Code — after identifying H44.2C(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with H44.2C when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

  ReviewH33

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse H44.2C with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of H44.2C — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• H44.20— Specificity relationship (Review)

  Overlapping diagnoses in the same category.

  Overlapping codes in the same category — the documentation decides which is the more specific fit.

  What moves you there: A record that documents no more than “Degenerative myopia, unspecified eye” takes H44.20; specificity in the record moves it back here.

  Full comparison: H44.2C vs H44.20 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: H44.2C1, H44.2C2, H44.2C3, H44.2C9.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name H44.2C or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes1 note: H52.1 — Myopia (via H44.2.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: H15.8 — Other disorders of sclera (via H44.2.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Related Codes

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Myopia”, “Change”, “Spots, spotting”, …; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

F07.0 — Personality change due to known physiological condition (personality, due to, general medical condition), F44.4 — Conversion disorder with motor symptom or deficit (voice, psychogenic), F60.89 — Other specific personality disorders (personality, secondary), F68.8 — Other specified disorders of adult personality and behavior (personality), H18.30 — Unspecified corneal membrane change (corneal membrane), H18.31 — Folds and rupture in Bowman's membrane (corneal membrane, Bowman's membrane fold or rupture), H18.32 — Folds in Descemet's membrane (corneal membrane, Descemet's membrane, fold), H18.33 — Rupture in Descemet's membrane (corneal membrane, Descemet's membrane, rupture), H18.51 — Endothelial corneal dystrophy (dystrophy), H35.9 — Unspecified retinal disorder (retina), H52.1 — Myopia, I73.9 — Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified (vasomotor), I78.1 — Nevus, non-neoplastic (ruby), I99.9 — Unspecified disorder of circulatory system (vascular), J34.3 — Hypertrophy of nasal turbinates (hypertrophic, turbinate, nasal), J34.89 — Other specified disorders of nose and nasal sinuses (hypertrophic, nasal sinus), J38.7 — Other diseases of larynx (hyperplastic larynx), J39.8 — Other specified diseases of upper respiratory tract (hypertrophic, upper respiratory tract), K00.8 — Other disorders of tooth development (color, tooth, teeth, during formation), K03.7 — Posteruptive color changes of dental hard tissues (color, tooth, teeth, posteruptive), +47 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of H44.2C in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run H44.2C with these 3 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• H00-H59 — Chapter 7: Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59) (H00-H59)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H43-H44 — Disorders of vitreous body and globe[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Use Additional Code

• H33 — Retinal detachments and breaks[Use Additional Code]: “code to identify the retinal detachment (H33.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

• H52.1 — Myopia[Excludes1](via H44.2.-): “degenerative myopia (H44.2-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• H15.8 — Other disorders of sclera[Excludes2](via H44.2.-): “degenerative myopia (H44.2-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• H44 — Disorders of globe[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.131 — Sympathetic uveitis, right eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.132 — Sympathetic uveitis, left eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.133 — Sympathetic uveitis, bilateral[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.139 — Sympathetic uveitis, unspecified eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.19 — Other endophthalmitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.2 — Degenerative myopia[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.20 — Degenerative myopia, unspecified eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2018 — Added to the code set[Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2018

Common coding questions

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to H44.2C in its code family, with their registry titles.

• H44.2B — Degenerative myopia with macular hole
• H44.2B1 — Degenerative myopia with macular hole, right eye
• H44.2B2 — Degenerative myopia with macular hole, left eye
• H44.2B3 — Degenerative myopia with macular hole, bilateral
• H44.2B9 — Degenerative myopia with macular hole, unspecified eye
• H44.2C1 — Degenerative myopia with retinal detachment, right eye
• H44.2C2 — Degenerative myopia with retinal detachment, left eye
• H44.2C3 — Degenerative myopia with retinal detachment, bilateral
• H44.2C9 — Degenerative myopia with retinal detachment, unspecified eye
• H44.2D — Degenerative myopia with foveoschisis

View all codes in the H44 family