H44.642 Retained (old) magnetic foreign body in posterior wall of globe, left eye

ICD-10-CM H44.642: Retained (old) magnetic foreign body in posterior wall of globe, left eye

ICD-10-CM code H44.642 identifies a retained, old magnetic foreign body located in the posterior wall of the left eye. The terminology record is active and represents a clinical finding. This specific diagnosis code appears in ophthalmology billing and coding guidance, and it is listed as a billable, specific code. 1 5 6

Plain-language overview

Code H44.642 describes a finding where an old magnetic object remains in the posterior wall of the left eye, and the terminology record includes an abbreviation for this retained magnetic foreign body. 1

What this code represents

The terminology record classifies H44.642 with the semantic type of finding within the ICD-10-CM version 2026 system, and its record status is active. 1

H44.642 is a billable, specific code valid for use in medical coding for the retained old magnetic foreign body in the posterior wall of the left eye. 6

Coding details

The parent concept for H44.642 is H44.64, which covers a retained old magnetic foreign body in the posterior wall of the globe, and H44.642 has narrower concepts in this terminology. 1

H44.642 is listed alongside H44.641 in terminology records, where H44.642 specifies the left eye for a retained old magnetic foreign body in the posterior wall of the globe. 4

Clinical context

Orbital computed tomography is critical when metallic foreign bodies are suspected, and ultrasonography may assist in posterior segment assessment if open-globe injury is excluded. 2

Documentation considerations

Clinical documentation for intraocular foreign bodies may rely on focused ocular examination, visual acuity assessment, intraocular pressure measurement, and orbital imaging. 2

Coverage and utilization context

The H44.642 code appears in Medicare billing and coding articles for ophthalmology services, and these articles provide guidance for billing and coding. 3 5

What the sources add

Terminology records provide the official code hierarchy and semantic type, while payer articles demonstrate the code's operational appearance in ophthalmology billing guidance. 1 5

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM H44.642 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. Article - Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Posterior Segment Imaging (Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography) (A57071) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. Article - Billing and Coding: Ophthalmology: Extended Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Photography (A53060) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
6. H44.642 — Retained (old) magnetic foreign body in posterior wall of globe, left eye | ICD-10 Code · Eleplan — eleplan.com; accessed 2026-07-27.