Oth diab with severe nonp rtnop without macular edema, l eye

This code signifies a diagnosis of other specified diabetes mellitus complicated by severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy affecting the left eye, specifically without the presence of macular edema. This represents a stage of diabetic eye disease where microaneurysms, hemorrhages, and cotton wool spots are present, indicating significant retinal damage, but new blood vessel growth has not yet occurred.

Use this code when documentation clearly states "other specified diabetes mellitus" as the underlying diabetic condition and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed in the left eye without macular edema. This code is appropriate when an ophthalmologist or endocrinologist confirms these specific findings during an eye examination.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "other specified diabetes mellitus" and not type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes.
• Verify laterality (left eye) and the absence of macular edema are explicitly documented.
• Do not use if the retinopathy is proliferative or if macular edema is present, as separate codes exist for those conditions.