H26.222 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), left eye

ICD-10-CM Code H26.222: Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), left eye

ICD-10-CM code H26.222 is an active terminology record named cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), left eye. It is classified as a disease or syndrome within the eye and adnexa chapter. Medicare billing articles and clinical literature provide additional operational and surgical context for this condition. 1 5 6 3 4 2

Plain-language overview

The preferred name for code H26.222 is cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), left eye, and it is abbreviated as cataract secondary to ocular disorders, left eye. 1

What this code represents

Code H26.222 is an active terminology record with the semantic type of Disease or Syndrome, and its parent concept is H26.22, cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory). 1 5

Coding details

Within the ICD-10-CM hierarchy, H26.222 falls under Chapter 7 for eye and adnexa diseases, category H26 for other cataract, and subcategory H26.22 for cataract secondary to ocular disorders. 6

The code H26.222 is presented as a billable and specific code with no child codes, and the reference data lists no code first or use additional code instructions for this particular diagnosis. 6

Documentation considerations

The official display label for H26.222 specifies the left eye, distinguishing it from the parent concept H26.22, which is cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory) without laterality. 1 6

Clinical context

Clinical literature establishes that degenerative lesions of the cornea and various ocular surface disorders can complicate cataract surgery, requiring evaluation of lid margins and ocular surface abnormalities prior to the procedure. 2

Coverage and utilization context

Medicare billing and coding articles provide guidance for related local coverage determinations involving cataract surgery and visual impairment, referencing the category of cataract secondary to ocular disorders. 3 4

What the sources add

While terminology records define the exact diagnostic label and hierarchical placement of H26.222, Medicare articles add operational context by linking this category of cataract to billing guidance for surgical procedures. 1 6 3 4

Clinical sources describe surgical management and anatomical complications of ocular surface disorders, whereas official terminology sources strictly define the code without detailing surgical treatments or clinical interventions. 2 1 5

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM H26.222 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Cataract surgery in ocular surface disease — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. Article - Billing and Coding: Cataract Surgery in Adults (A57195) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. Article - Billing and Coding: Cataract Surgery (A59805) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
6. ICD-10-CM Code H26.222 | Vero — veroscribe.com; accessed 2026-07-27.