Late syphilitic oculopathy

This code signifies ocular manifestations occurring in the late stage of syphilis, typically years after the initial infection. These can include conditions such as interstitial keratitis, chorioretinitis, optic atrophy, or uveitis, all resulting from chronic syphilitic inflammation affecting various structures of the eye.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of syphilis and specific eye involvement attributed to the late stage of the disease. This applies to patients with a confirmed history of syphilis presenting with chronic or progressive ocular symptoms consistent with tertiary syphilis.

• Ensure the medical record explicitly links the ocular condition to a syphilitic etiology.
• Do not use this code for congenital syphilis with ocular involvement; refer to codes in the A50 category.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when the late syphilitic oculopathy is the reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis when it is a co-morbidity.