J06.9 - Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified

Clinical Definition

Astigmatism is a refractive error caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens, resulting in blurred or distorted vision at all distances. Unlike near or farsightedness, astigmatism causes light to focus on multiple points instead of a single focal point on the retina.

Documentation Requirements

• Specify laterality (right eye, left eye, or bilateral)

• Document severity/diopter measurement

• Identify type:

  • Regular vs. irregular

  • With-the-rule vs. against-the-rule

  • Simple vs. compound

• Note if combined with myopia or hyperopia

• Document any underlying cause (congenital, post-surgical, etc.)

• Include current vision acuity measurements

• Note any associated symptoms

Common Synonyms

• Blurred vision

• Cylindrical error

• Irregular cornea

• "Football-shaped" cornea

• Vision distortion

Coding Conflicts

Excludes1:

• Irregular astigmatism (H52.21-)

• Keratoconus (H18.6-)

Excludes2:

• Presbyopia (H52.4)

• Simple myopia (H52.1-)

Scribing.io Automation

The AI scribe automatically identifies:

• Diopter measurements from refraction tests

• Laterality keywords in exam notes

• Vision acuity measurements

• Type descriptors (regular/irregular)

• Associated diagnoses

• Treatment plans including corrective lens prescriptions

The system flags missing elements required for proper coding and prompts for additional documentation if needed.