T15
Foreign body on external eye
T15 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for foreign body on external eye. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are T15.0 Foreign body in cornea; T15.1 Foreign body in conjunctival sac; T15.8 Foreign body in other and multiple parts of external eye and T15.9 Foreign body on external eye, part unspecified. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction and 11 Excludes2 entries.
7th characters
Every code below needs one of these.
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T15
- Ainitial encounter
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela
Guidelines tip
From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.
The 7th character depends on whether the patient is in active treatment, not on who sees the patient. An aftercare Z code is not used for injury aftercare.
Use additional code
Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.
Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
- code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-)
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2
Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.
- foreign body in penetrating wound of orbit and eye ball (S05.4-, S05.5-)
- open wound of eyelid and periocular area (S01.1-)
- retained foreign body in eyelid (H02.8-)
- retained (old) foreign body in penetrating wound of orbit and eye ball (H05.5-, H44.6-, H44.7-)
- superficial foreign body of eyelid and periocular area (S00.25-)
Also from chapter/block level (6 notes)
- birth trauma (P10-P15)
- obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Notes
Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.