​​​​​​​When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • Vitreo-macular traction not causing distortion or visual loss.
  • Asymptomatic, visual acuity 6/9 or better and no significant distortion.
  • Patient not willing to have surgery.

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days		Full thickness macular hole with acute onset visual loss.
Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days
  • Epiretinal membrane with visual acuity worse than 6/12.
  • Symptomatic distortion (confirmed on Amsler grid) with abnormal fovea contour on optical coherence tomography.
  • Lamellar macular hole.
Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days		Symptomatic epiretinal membrane with visual acuity 6/9 to 6/12 and no distortion (confirmed on Amsler grid).

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral.
  • Details of the presenting condition including symptoms and impact on activities of daily living.
  • Provisional diagnosis.
  • Optometrist, orthoptist or ophthalmologist report, including Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA).
  • Retinal imaging or optical coherence tomography (OCT) results.
  • 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).
  • Refraction.
  • Retinal examination.
  • Previous ocular history.
  • Guardianship status.
  • Professional driver with specific visual acuity requirements for employment.
  • Driving status.
  • Social circumstances.
  • 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: Sunday 12 May 2024
Contact page owner: System Purchasing