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ICD-10-CM 2026 · Effective October 1, 2025

ICD-10 H35.81

Billable / Specific

Retinal edema

H35
Block
1
Synonyms
166
LCDs
31
Payer Policies
2
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM H35.81

ICD-10-CM code H35.81 represents Retinal edema. This is a billable/specific code in the Eye and Adnexa chapter (block H35). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM H35.81 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms

Clinical terms and conditions classified under H35.81. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.

  • Retinal cotton wool spots

Medicare LCD Coverage for H35.81

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list H35.81 as a covered diagnosis.

166 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 166 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography
Article ID: 53060, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1692 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92201 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography
Article ID: 53060, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1692 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92250 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography
Article ID: 53060, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1692 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92202 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography
Article ID: 53060, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1692 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92227 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography
Article ID: 53060, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1692 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92228 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ranibizumab and biosimilars, Aflibercept, Aflibercept HD, Brolucizumab-dbll, Faricimab-svoa, PAVBLU�aflibercept-ayyh, AHZANTIVE�aflibercept-abzv. ENZEEVU�aflibercept-mrbb, OPUVIZ�aflibercept-yszy and YESAFILI� aflibercept-jbvf
Article ID: 52451, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 230 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT Q5147 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ranibizumab and biosimilars, Aflibercept, Aflibercept HD, Brolucizumab-dbll, Faricimab-svoa, PAVBLU�aflibercept-ayyh, AHZANTIVE�aflibercept-abzv. ENZEEVU�aflibercept-mrbb, OPUVIZ�aflibercept-yszy and YESAFILI� aflibercept-jbvf
Article ID: 52451, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 230 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT Q5124 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ranibizumab and biosimilars, Aflibercept, Aflibercept HD, Brolucizumab-dbll, Faricimab-svoa, PAVBLU�aflibercept-ayyh, AHZANTIVE�aflibercept-abzv. ENZEEVU�aflibercept-mrbb, OPUVIZ�aflibercept-yszy and YESAFILI� aflibercept-jbvf
Article ID: 52451, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 230 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT Q5150 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ranibizumab and biosimilars, Aflibercept, Aflibercept HD, Brolucizumab-dbll, Faricimab-svoa, PAVBLU�aflibercept-ayyh, AHZANTIVE�aflibercept-abzv. ENZEEVU�aflibercept-mrbb, OPUVIZ�aflibercept-yszy and YESAFILI� aflibercept-jbvf
Article ID: 52451, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 230 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT J0177 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Ranibizumab and biosimilars, Aflibercept, Aflibercept HD, Brolucizumab-dbll, Faricimab-svoa, PAVBLU�aflibercept-ayyh, AHZANTIVE�aflibercept-abzv. ENZEEVU�aflibercept-mrbb, OPUVIZ�aflibercept-yszy and YESAFILI� aflibercept-jbvf
Article ID: 52451, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 230 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 67027 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing H35.81.

31 policies

1 Cigna

Duplex Scan of Extracranial Arteries - (0542)
Policy ID: MM_0542

5 Medicare

Billing and Coding: Bevacizumab and biosimilars
Policy ID: ART-52370
Billing and Coding: Ranibizumab and biosimilars, Aflibercept, Aflibercept HD, Brolucizumab-dbll, Faricimab-svoa, PAVBLU�aflibercept-ayyh, AHZANTIVE�aflibercept-abzv. ENZEEVU�aflibercept-mrbb, OPUVIZ�a
Policy ID: ART-52451
Billing and Coding: Intraocular Bevacizumab
Policy ID: ART-53008
Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography
Policy ID: ART-53060
Billing and Coding: Cataract Extraction
Policy ID: ART-56453

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with H35.81

Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.

2 linkages
  • 67028 Intravitreal injection — wet AMD, macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion Ophthalmology
  • 67028 Intravitreal injection — wet/dry AMD all stages both eyes, diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, macular edema Ophthalmology

Convert H35.81 to ICD-9-CM

Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
H35.81 36283 00000

Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).

ICD-10 H35.81, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code H35.81 billable? +

Yes, H35.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

What other names or terms map to H35.81? +

ICD-10 H35.81 includes: Retinal cotton wool spots.

What CPT codes are commonly billed with H35.81? +

Procedures frequently paired with H35.81 include: 67028, 67028.

What ICD-9 codes does H35.81 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, H35.81 maps to ICD-9 codes: 36283. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

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Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team

Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on July 16, 2026.

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