​​​​Emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice via phone to on-call consultant/registrar:

  • acute angle closure crisis
  • acute painful eye with sudden loss of vision
  • intraocular pressure (IOP) > 35 mmHg
  • red and painful eye with history of glaucoma drainage surgery.

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • Ocular hypertension with intraocular pressure (IOP) < 28 mmHg with normal discs and fields and no other signs or risk factors for glaucoma.
  • Screening due to presence of glaucoma in family history.

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days
  • Uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) > 26 mmHg and severe disc damage and/or field loss.
  • IOP 30 to 35 mmHg.
Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days
  • Initial IOP treatment by an optometrist and without ophthalmology review.
  • Likely diagnosis of glaucoma and any of the following are present:
    • signs of early disc damage or field loss consistent with glaucoma
    • IOP 28 to 30 mmHg without disc damage or field loss
    • suspicion of narrow iridocorneal angles with risk of angle closure glaucoma.
Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days
  • Controlled IOP but unable to continue receiving care under private ophthalmologist.
  • Narrow angles with controlled IOP.
  • IOP 22 to 27 mmHg with any of the following are present:
    • central corneal thickness < 520 microns
    • high risk medicine (e.g. steroids)
    • history of trauma
    • pseudoexfoliation
    • pigment dispersion
    • high myopia
    • family history of glaucoma.

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral.
  • Details of the presenting condition including symptoms, nature, duration and impact on activities of daily living.
  • Provisional diagnosis.
  • Optometrist, orthoptist or ophthalmologist report including Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field tests and disc assessment.
  • If the patient requires an interpreter (if so, list preferred language).

If available

  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations,
    current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions).
  • Private ophthalmologist report (if transferring care).
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT) results.
  • Gonioscopy.
  • Pachymetry.
  • Optic disc photos.
  • Family history of glaucoma.
  • Professional driver with specific visual acuity requirements for employment.
  • Driving status.
  • If the patient is at increased risk of falling.
  • If the patient identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
  • If the patient is considered ‘at risk’ and/or among a vulnerable, disadvantaged or priority population.
  • If the patient is willing to have surgery (where clinically relevant).
  • If the patient is suitable for virtual care or telehealth.
  • If the patient has special needs or requires reasonable adjustments to be made.

Important information for referring health professionals

If there is a change to a patient’s condition while waiting for their appointment, referring health professionals may further investigate and manage the situation, or send an updated referral to the outpatient service. Where there are significant concerns about a patient's condition, referring health professionals may check HealthPathways for urgent/same day advice or contact the relevant clinical team.

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Current as at: Thursday 14 November 2024
Contact page owner: System Purchasing