Specialty: Ophthalmology
Age group: Adult
Immediately contact the ophthalmology registrar to arrange an urgent ophthalmology assessment for:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Corneal graft rejection
- Contact lens keratitis or corneal ulcers
- Embedded foreign body in the eye
- Traumatic eye injuries.
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Corneal and ocular surface conditions including:
- progressive corneal conditions causing vision loss
- corneal melting disorders
- graft versus host disease
- new pigmented corneal or conjunctival lesions
- ocular surface squamous neoplasia
- patient requires corneal transplant
- progressive cicatrising conjunctivitis
- progressive keratoconus
- symptomatic pterygium
- symptomatic, recurrent corneal erosion syndrome.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Comprehensive eye and vision assessment (usually performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist) with refraction.
- Onset, severity and duration symptoms.
Provide if available
- Any history of:
- herpetic eye disease
- corneal transplant
- contact lens use
- traumatic eye injury
- eye surgery
- If the person identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
People experiencing disadvantage or other barriers to accessing eyecare services may be eligible to receive services through the Victorian Eyecare .
Where appropriate and available, the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
- Dry eyes
- Blepharitis
- Asymptomatic pterygium.
Reviewed 26 May 2025