Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Insertion of an epiretinal prosthesis for retinitis pigmentosa, in June 2015.
Description
Retinitis pigmentosa is the encompassing term for a group of degenerative eye conditions that cause progressive loss of retinal photoreceptors. The disease is often inherited. Patients initially experience ring scotoma and night vision problems which, in most cases, slowly progress and lead to the loss of all peripheral vision. Central vision is usually preserved until late stages of the disease, but can be lost earlier with severe disease.
Conservative treatment strategies are aimed at early identification and treatment of complications such as cataract or macular oedema. Some newer treatments aim to slow the progression of the condition. Surgical treatments are being developed; including subretinal and epiretinal prostheses, as well as optic nerve implants to restore basic sight.
Coding recommendations
The OPCS-4 codes for Insertion of an epriretinal prosthesis system for retinitis pigmentosa are:
C84.8 Other specified other operations on retina
Y02.1 Insertion of prosthesis into organ NOC
In addition the ICD-10 code H35.5 Hereditary retinal dystrophy would be recorded.