ICD-10 Code H49.43 – Progressive external ophthalmoplegia, bilateral (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H49.43 – Progressive external ophthalmoplegia, bilateral
What it is
H49.43 identifies progressive external ophthalmoplegia affecting both eyes. It describes a disorder with gradual weakness of the eye muscles that limits eye movement, usually without changing the pupils.
Clinical signs
Common findings include slowly worsening limitation of extraocular movements and bilateral ptosis. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for the specific pattern of eye muscle involvement.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents progressive external ophthalmoplegia and specifies that both eyes are involved. It also fits encounters where bilateral eye movement weakness is the confirmed diagnosis. If laterality is not documented, check documentation before coding.
Do not use for
Do not use H49.43 for ptosis alone, isolated cranial nerve palsy, or nonspecific diplopia without documented progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Check documentation if the record does not clearly state bilateral involvement.
Coding tip
Confirm both the progressive nature and bilateral eye involvement in the assessment before assigning H49.43.