ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body On External Eye: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group T15 includes codes for foreign bodies on or in the external structures of the eye, covering objects lodged in the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, and surrounding ocular tissues. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document ophthalmic foreign body injuries, capturing the anatomical location, presence of penetration or abrasion, and any associated complications that affect clinical management. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM T15 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM T15: Foreign Body On External Eye Overview

The ICD-10-CM T15 code group represents diagnoses for foreign bodies lodged on or in external structures of the eye, including the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, and lacrimal apparatus. These codes target ophthalmic injuries caused by particulate matter, organic material, or articulated objects entering the eye through natural orifices. Accurate coding is important to reflect the extent of injury, guide treatment documentation, and support appropriate reimbursement for ophthalmic services.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a patient presents with a documented foreign body involving external ocular structures identified on examination or imaging. Select the code that specifies the anatomical site and the nature of the injury to reflect clinical severity and resource use.

ICD-10-CM Codes

36 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
T15.00XA	Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, initial encounter
T15.00XD	Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, subsequent encounter
T15.00XS	Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, sequela
T15.01XA	Foreign body in cornea, right eye, initial encounter
T15.01XD	Foreign body in cornea, right eye, subsequent encounter
T15.01XS	Foreign body in cornea, right eye, sequela
T15.02XA	Foreign body in cornea, left eye, initial encounter
T15.02XD	Foreign body in cornea, left eye, subsequent encounter
T15.02XS	Foreign body in cornea, left eye, sequela
T15.10XA	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, unspecified eye, initial encounter
T15.10XD	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, unspecified eye, subsequent encounter
T15.10XS	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, unspecified eye, sequela
T15.11XA	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, right eye, initial encounter
T15.11XD	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, right eye, subsequent encounter
T15.11XS	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, right eye, sequela
T15.12XA	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, left eye, initial encounter
T15.12XD	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, left eye, subsequent encounter
T15.12XS	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, left eye, sequela
T15.80XA	Foreign body in other and multiple parts of external eye, unspecified eye, initial encounter
T15.80XD	Foreign body in other and multiple parts of external eye, unspecified eye, subsequent encounter

Showing 1–20 of 36

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
124	Other Disorders of the Eye with MCC or Thrombolytic Agent
125	Other Disorders of the Eye without MCC
913	Traumatic Injury with MCC
914	Traumatic Injury without MCC
949	Aftercare with CC/MCC
950	Aftercare without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult presents to the emergency department after a high-velocity metal grinding incident; he reports severe eye pain, tearing, and blurred vision after a small metal fragment struck the surface of the right eye. On exam a superficial foreign particle is visible on the cornea/conjunctiva and is removed at bedside; the encounter is for the acute treatment of the external ocular foreign body, so a diagnosis from this group is assigned. Typical codes: T15.01XA, T15.01XD
A child is brought to urgent care by a parent after rubbing the left eye vigorously following playground exposure; persistent redness and discomfort prompt slit-lamp exam that reveals an embedded insect part under the conjunctival surface requiring removal and local treatment. This is an urgent ambulatory visit for an external eye foreign body in the pediatric population, and a code from this group is used to describe the external eye foreign body. Typical codes: T15.11XA, T15.11XS
An elderly nursing-home resident with cognitive impairment has chronic, recurrent conjunctival irritation after prior incomplete removal of vegetable material from the eye that led to persistent inflammation and need for repeat procedures; the visit documents ongoing sequelae and follow-up care for the external ocular foreign body complication. A code from this group reflecting the external eye foreign body and its subsequent encounter category is assigned. Typical codes: T15.12XD, T15.12XS

Related Codes

T16-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-EAR

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Ear: Group Overview

T17-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-RESPIRATORY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Respiratory Tract: Group Overview

T18-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-ALIMENTARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Alimentary Tract: Group Overview

T19-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-GENITOURINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Genitourinary Tract: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

36 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
T15.00XA	Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, initial encounter
T15.00XD	Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, subsequent encounter
T15.00XS	Foreign body in cornea, unspecified eye, sequela
T15.01XA	Foreign body in cornea, right eye, initial encounter
T15.01XD	Foreign body in cornea, right eye, subsequent encounter
T15.01XS	Foreign body in cornea, right eye, sequela
T15.02XA	Foreign body in cornea, left eye, initial encounter
T15.02XD	Foreign body in cornea, left eye, subsequent encounter
T15.02XS	Foreign body in cornea, left eye, sequela
T15.10XA	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, unspecified eye, initial encounter
T15.10XD	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, unspecified eye, subsequent encounter
T15.10XS	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, unspecified eye, sequela
T15.11XA	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, right eye, initial encounter
T15.11XD	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, right eye, subsequent encounter
T15.11XS	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, right eye, sequela
T15.12XA	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, left eye, initial encounter
T15.12XD	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, left eye, subsequent encounter
T15.12XS	Foreign body in conjunctival sac, left eye, sequela
T15.80XA	Foreign body in other and multiple parts of external eye, unspecified eye, initial encounter
T15.80XD	Foreign body in other and multiple parts of external eye, unspecified eye, subsequent encounter

Showing 1–20 of 36

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
124	Other Disorders of the Eye with MCC or Thrombolytic Agent
125	Other Disorders of the Eye without MCC
913	Traumatic Injury with MCC
914	Traumatic Injury without MCC
949	Aftercare with CC/MCC
950	Aftercare without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult presents to the emergency department after a high-velocity metal grinding incident; he reports severe eye pain, tearing, and blurred vision after a small metal fragment struck the surface of the right eye. On exam a superficial foreign particle is visible on the cornea/conjunctiva and is removed at bedside; the encounter is for the acute treatment of the external ocular foreign body, so a diagnosis from this group is assigned. Typical codes: T15.01XA, T15.01XD
A child is brought to urgent care by a parent after rubbing the left eye vigorously following playground exposure; persistent redness and discomfort prompt slit-lamp exam that reveals an embedded insect part under the conjunctival surface requiring removal and local treatment. This is an urgent ambulatory visit for an external eye foreign body in the pediatric population, and a code from this group is used to describe the external eye foreign body. Typical codes: T15.11XA, T15.11XS
An elderly nursing-home resident with cognitive impairment has chronic, recurrent conjunctival irritation after prior incomplete removal of vegetable material from the eye that led to persistent inflammation and need for repeat procedures; the visit documents ongoing sequelae and follow-up care for the external ocular foreign body complication. A code from this group reflecting the external eye foreign body and its subsequent encounter category is assigned. Typical codes: T15.12XD, T15.12XS

Related Codes

T16-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-EAR

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Ear: Group Overview

T17-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-RESPIRATORY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Respiratory Tract: Group Overview

T18-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-ALIMENTARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Alimentary Tract: Group Overview

T19-FOREIGN-BODY-IN-GENITOURINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body In Genitourinary Tract: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body On External Eye: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body On External Eye: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM T15: Foreign Body On External Eye Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body On External Eye: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Foreign Body On External Eye: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM T15: Foreign Body On External Eye Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which anatomical sites are covered by ICD-10-CM T15 codes?

How do T15 codes indicate laterality and encounter type?

Which specific codes document foreign bodies in the cornea and conjunctival sac?

What is the coding option for foreign bodies in other or multiple external eye parts or unspecified parts?

How does accurate coding within the T15 group support billing and clinical documentation?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which anatomical sites are covered by ICD-10-CM T15 codes?

How do T15 codes indicate laterality and encounter type?

Which specific codes document foreign bodies in the cornea and conjunctival sac?

What is the coding option for foreign bodies in other or multiple external eye parts or unspecified parts?

How does accurate coding within the T15 group support billing and clinical documentation?

References