[Computer program for improved diagnostic coding in ophthalmology based on the expanded ICD 10].

BACKGROUND

The coding of ophthalmological diagnoses is a long-standing problem that has recently been highlighted by the planned introduction of ICD 10.

METHODS

Using an alphanumerical classification system for the first time, ICD 10 offers the space needed for necessary expansion without leading once again to dislocations in the numbering system. The FoxPro 2.5 database system was used to create a program based on an expanded ICD 10 that can be applied from DOS and Windows.

RESULTS

ICD 10 was expanded by the addition of a numerical fifth digit, thus increasing the number of classifiable ophthalmological disorders by a factor of 4.2 from 390 to 1635. The new program greatly facilitates the handling of this substantial amount of data.

CONCLUSIONS

The enhanced diagnosis coding achieved with the expanded ICD 10 permits nosologically exact statistics to be kept for use as a basis for further scientific work.