ICD-10 Code H46.03 – Optic papillitis, bilateral (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H46.03 – Optic papillitis, bilateral
What it is
H46.03 identifies inflammation of both optic discs, often used when the optic nerve head is swollen due to papillitis. It is a laterality-specific diagnosis for bilateral involvement.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include decreased visual acuity, pain with eye movement, and optic disc swelling on examination. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use H46.03 when the provider documents bilateral optic papillitis or bilateral optic disc inflammation. It is appropriate when both eyes are clearly involved and the diagnosis is established in the record. Check documentation if the note instead describes optic neuritis, papilledema, or an unspecified optic nerve disorder.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for unilateral optic papillitis or for papilledema without documented papillitis. If the laterality or exact diagnosis is unclear, check documentation.
Coding tip
Verify that “bilateral” is explicitly documented before assigning H46.03.