ICD 10 CM E10.351 | Description & Clinical Information

ICD 10 E10.351 describes a medical condition known as Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), which is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs due to the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to insufficient insulin production, resulting in high blood glucose levels that gradually damage the blood supply to the retina, causing the growth of new blood vessels and macular edema, which is the accumulation of fluid in the macula.

Official Description Of E10.351

The ICD 10 CM book defines ICD 10 code E10.351 as:

When To Use E10.351

The diagnosis describes by the ICD 10 CM E10.351 code is proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which refers to an advanced stage of diabetic eye disease that can lead to vision loss if not properly treated. This condition occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the retina become blocked, causing a lack of oxygen in the tissue. As a result, new blood vessels form to supply oxygen to the retina, but they are fragile and can bleed into the vitreous humor, causing floaters.

In addition, individuals with DM type 1 and this condition may also experience macular edema, which is caused by the accumulation of blood from leaking blood vessels in the retina. This can cause swelling and thickening of the macula, which can lead to blurred vision and other visual impairments. Symptoms of this condition can include changes in color vision, grayed-out or empty areas in visual images, pain in the eyes, and light flashes.

Diagnosing this condition involves a series of tests, including a physical examination of the eye, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein or indocyanine green angiography, and B-scan ultrasonography. These tests can help eye care professionals determine the extent of the damage and recommend appropriate treatment.

For DM type 1, a diagnosis typically involves a combination of glucose tolerance tests, plasma glucose level tests, HbA1c levels, CBC, urine testing for albumin, glucose, and ketones, and anti-insulin antibody testing. These tests help determine the severity of the diabetes and identify any potential complications.

Treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy typically involves laser photocoagulation to treat leaking blood vessels, vitrectomy, and anti-VEGF or steroid injections. For DM type 1, treatment consists of lifelong insulin therapy, diet management, and blood glucose monitoring. Patients with this condition need to monitor their blood glucose regularly using fingerstick monitors or continuous glucose monitoring devices to manage their disease.

While this condition can be an unfortunate complication of DM type 1, appropriate diagnosis and treatment can help patients manage their symptoms and prevent further vision loss. Individuals living with this condition should consult with an eye care professional and a healthcare provider to develop an appropriate treatment plan.