Product classification
HS code for Ophthalmic instruments: 9018.50
Ophthalmic instruments and appliances.
Classification of ophthalmic instruments under HS 9018.50
Ophthalmic instruments and appliances are classified under HS code 9018.50. Chapter 90 covers optical, medical, or surgical instruments and apparatus. Heading 9018 is the primary heading for instruments used in medical, surgical, dental, or veterinary sciences. Subheading 9018.50 is a specific category for instruments used in the field of ophthalmology, which is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye. This classification includes a wide range of diagnostic and surgical tools. The classification is driven by the intended medical use of the instrument. According to the Explanatory Notes to heading 9018, these instruments may incorporate optical elements (like lenses or mirrors), but their primary function must be medical or surgical in nature. This distinguishes them from purely optical instruments used for observation or measurement outside of a clinical medical context.
- Covers
- Slit lamps and ophthalmoscopes
- Tonometers (for measuring intraocular pressure)
- Retinoscopes and keratometers
- Corneal microscopes and surgical eye instruments
- Binocular loupes for ophthalmic surgery
- Also under 9018.50
- Zeiss SL 120 Slit Lamp
- Welch Allyn PanOptic Ophthalmoscope
- Topcon TRC-50DX Fundus Camera
- Alcon Centurion Vision System
- Nidek ARK-1a Autorefractor Keratometer
Codes often confused with 9018.50
Common mistake. Ophthalmic instruments are frequently misclassified under HS code 9001 (lenses and prisms) or 9004 (spectacles/eyewear). However, 9018.50 is for the professional instruments used by doctors, not the corrective lenses themselves. Another error is using 9011 for compound optical microscopes; while some ophthalmic tools use microscopy, if they are specifically designed for eye examination or surgery, 9018.50 takes precedence as the more specific medical heading.
Top exporters and importers of HS 901850 (the code used for ophthalmic instruments), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 901850 (the code used for ophthalmic instruments) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 14% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 901850, not only ophthalmic instruments.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $1.3B 22% of world exports
- 2 Germany $1.0B 17% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $473M 7.9% of world exports
World total: $6.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $916M 14% of world imports
- 2 United States $640M 9.8% of world imports
- 3 Netherlands $477M 7.3% of world imports
World total: $6.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for ophthalmic instruments
Brazil splits HS 9018.50 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 9018.50.10Binocular microscopes for eye surgery
- 9018.50.90Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about ophthalmic instruments
What is the HS code for Ophthalmic instruments?
The HS code for Ophthalmic instruments is 901850 (Ophthalmic instruments and appliances). The HS code for ophthalmic instruments and appliances used in medical practice is 9018.50.
How do I classify Ophthalmic instruments for customs?
Ophthalmic instruments is classified under HS code 901850 — Ophthalmic instruments and appliances. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are eyeglasses classified under this code?
No, eyeglasses and corrective spectacles are classified under HS code 9004.10 (sunglasses) or 9004.90 (other).
Which countries are the top exporters of ophthalmic instruments (HS 901850)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 901850 (the code used for ophthalmic instruments) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.3B, 22% of world exports), Germany ($1.0B) and the Netherlands ($473M). World exports came to about $6.0B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of ophthalmic instruments (HS 901850)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 901850 (the code used for ophthalmic instruments) in UN Comtrade data were China ($916M, 14% of world imports), the United States ($640M) and the Netherlands ($477M). World imports came to about $6.5B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Ophthalmic instruments the same in all countries?
The base HS code 901850 for Ophthalmic instruments is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for ophthalmic instruments in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 901850 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for ophthalmic instruments depends on the product's details: 9018.50.10 (Binocular microscopes for eye surgery), 9018.50.90 (Other ophthalmic instruments and appliances).