Absence of iris

This code describes aniridia, a rare congenital ocular disorder characterized by the partial or complete absence of the iris, the colored part of the eye. This condition often affects both eyes and can lead to significant visual impairment due to associated ocular abnormalities.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of aniridia, whether congenital or acquired, though it is predominantly congenital. Supporting documentation will typically include ophthalmological examination findings detailing the absence or hypoplasia of the iris.

• Differentiate from iris atrophy (H21.2x), which is a degenerative condition, not an absence.
• Always code any associated ocular conditions, such as glaucoma (H40.-), cataracts (H25.-, H26.-), or nystagmus (H55.0), as secondary diagnoses.
• Review documentation for laterality (e.g., bilateral, right eye, left eye) if specified, though this code is not laterality-specific.