H46.9 Unspecified optic neuritis

The ICD-10-CM code for Unspecified optic neuritis is H46.9 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

7: Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59)

Section

H46-H47: Disorders of optic nerve and visual pathways (H46-H47)

Category H46

15 codes (12 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to H46.9:

• Neuritis (rheumatoid) › optic (nerve) (hereditary) (sympathetic)

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 11,020 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included H46.9 among the documented diagnoses.
• 3,570 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

Glaucoma (TOC entry)

a. Glaucoma .............................................................................................................................. 48

Assigning glaucoma codes (use as many H40 codes as needed)

Assign as many codes from category H40, Glaucoma, as needed to identify the type of glaucoma, the affected eye, and the glaucoma stage.

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)