Z97.3: Presence of spectacles and contact lenses

Presence of spectacles and contact lenses, as described under code Z97.3 of the ICD-10 WHO 2016 classification, doesn't refer to any disease or medical condition itself. Rather, it's an indication that a person uses spectacles and/or contact lenses for vision correction. This usually means they have a refractive error such as myopia (nearsightedness), hypermetropia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. These errors occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing directly on the retina, leading to blurry vision. Spectacles and contact lenses are commonly used tools to correct these refractive errors. They work by adjusting how light enters the eye, allowing it to focus correctly on the retina and resolving the blurriness. It's also worth mentioning that individuals may need to use spectacles or contact lenses, even with normal aging, as the eye's focusing ability decreases over time (presbyopia).