ICD-10 Code A39.82 – Meningococcal retrobulbar neuritis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A39.82 – Meningococcal retrobulbar neuritis
What it is
This code identifies retrobulbar neuritis caused by meningococcal infection. It refers to inflammation of the optic nerve behind the eye in the setting of meningococcal disease.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include painful vision loss, reduced visual acuity, and impaired color vision. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use A39.82 when the provider documents retrobulbar neuritis linked to meningococcal infection. Code it when the optic nerve involvement is specifically identified as meningococcal in the record. If the note only mentions meningococcal disease without eye involvement, do not assign this code.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for optic neuritis from non-meningococcal causes or for unspecified meningococcal infection. Check documentation if the record does not clearly connect the neuritis to meningococcal disease.
Coding tip
Confirm both the meningococcal diagnosis and the optic nerve involvement before coding A39.82.