DISORDERS OF THE EYE AND ADNEXA (360-379)
Use additional external cause code, if applicable, to identify the cause of the eye condition
369 Blindness and low vision
Excludes:
correctable impaired vision due to refractive errors (367.0-367.9)
Note:
Visual impairment refers to a functional limitation of the eye (e.g., limited visual acuity or visual field). It should be distinguished from visual disability, indicating a limitation of the abilities of the individual (e.g., limited reading skills, vocational skills), and from visual handicap, indicating a limitation of personal and socioeconomic independence (e.g., limited mobility, limited employability).
The levels of impairment defined in the table after 369.9 are based on the recommendations of the WHO Study Group on Prevention of Blindness (Geneva, November 6-10, 1972; WHO Technical Report Series 518), and of the International Council of Ophthalmology (1976).
Note that definitions of blindness vary in different settings.
For international reporting, WHO defines blindness as profound impairment. This definition can be applied to blindness of one eye (369.1, 369.6) and to blindness of the individual (369.0).
For determination of benefits in the U.S.A., the definition of legal blindness as severe impairment is often used. This definition applies to blindness of the individual only.
369.0: Profound impairment, both eyes
369.1: Moderate or severe impairment, better eye, profound impairment lesser eye
369.2: Moderate or severe impairment, both eyes
369.3: Unqualified visual loss, both eyes
Excludes:
blindness NOS:
legal [U.S.A. definition] (369.4)
WHO definition (369.00)
369.4: Legal blindness, as defined in U.S.A.
Blindness NOS according to U.S.A. definition
Excludes:
legal blindness with specification of impairment level (369.01-369.08, 369.11-369.14, 369.21-369.22)
369.6: Profound impairment, one eye
369.7: Moderate or severe impairment, one eye
369.8: Unqualified visual loss, one eye
369.9: Unspecified visual loss
---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Additional Classification | LEVELS OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT | descriptors -------------------------------------------------------| which may | | Visual acuity and/or visual field | be en- "legal" | WHO | limitation (whichever is worse) | countered --------|----------|-----------------------------------|-------------- | | | | | RANGE OF NORMAL VISION | | | 20/10 20/13 20/16 20/20 20/25 | | (NEAR-) | 2.0 1.6 1.25 1.0 0.8 | | NORMAL |-----------------------------------|-------------- | VISION | | | | NEAR-NORMAL VISION | | | 20/30 20/40 20/50 20/60 | | | 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 | |----------|-----------------------------------|-------------- | | MODERATE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT | | | 20/70 20/80 20/100 20/125 20/160| Moderate | LOW | 0.25 0.20 0.16 0.12 | low vision --------| VISION |-----------------------------------|-------------- | | SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT | Severe | | 20/200 20/250 20/320 20/400 | low vision, | | 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.05 | "Legal" | | Visual field: 20 degrees or less | blindness |----------|-----------------------------------|-------------- LEGAL | | PROFOUND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT | Profound BLIND- | | 20/500 20/630 20/800 20/1000 | low vision, NESS | | 0.04 0.03 0.025 0.02 | Moderate (U.S.A.)| | | blindness | BLINDNESS| Count fingers at: less than 3m | | | (10 ft) | | | Visual field: 10 degrees or less | | |-----------------------------------|-------------- | | NEAR-TOTAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT | Severe | | Visual acuity: less than 0.02 | blindness, | | (20/1000) | | | | both | (WHO) | Count fingers: 1m (3 ft) or less | eyes | | Hand movements: 5m (15 ft) or less| Near-total | one or | Light projection, light perception| blindness | both | Visual field: 5 degrees or less | | eyes |-----------------------------------|-------------- | | TOTAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT | Total | | No light perception (NLP) | blindness --------|----------|-------------------------------------------------- Visual acuity refers to best achievable acuity with correction. Non-listed Snellen fractions may be classified by converting to the nearest decimal equivalent, e.g. 10/200 = 0.05, 6/30 = 0.20. CF (count fingers) without designation of distance, may be classified to profound impairment. HM (hand motion) without designation of distance, may be classified to near-total impairment. Visual field measurements refer to the largest field diameter for a 1/100 white test object.

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