ICD-10 Code H26.059 – Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, unspecified eye (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H26.059 – Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, unspecified eye
What it is
This code identifies a posterior subcapsular polar cataract present in infancy or childhood, when the affected eye is not specified. It describes a lens opacity affecting the back portion of the lens near the capsule.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly, you may see reduced visual acuity, glare, or abnormal red reflex, with the cataract documented as infantile or juvenile and posterior subcapsular or polar.
When to use this code
Use H26.059 when the record documents this cataract type in a child or infant but does not identify the eye. It is also appropriate when the provider confirms the diagnosis without laterality detail. If laterality is documented, choose the more specific code.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for age-related cataracts, traumatic cataracts, or cataracts with a different documented morphology. If the note specifies right, left, or bilateral eye involvement, check documentation for a more specific code.
Coding tip
Before assigning H26.059, confirm both the pediatric/juvenile cataract type and that laterality is truly unspecified.