Specialty: Ophthalmology
Age group: Adult
Immediately contact the ophthalmology registrar to arrange an urgent ophthalmology assessment for:
- Sudden loss of vision associated with raised intraocular pressure (e.g. acute angle-closure glaucoma).
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
The management of:
- advanced glaucoma
- unstable, progressive glaucoma.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Comprehensive eye and vision assessment performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, with refraction, that includes intraocular pressure and visual field test for both eyes performed in the last 3 months
- Presence of any of the following:
- secondary glaucoma
- if the patient has only one seeing eye
- multiple ocular surgeries
- ocular trauma.
Provide if available
- Central corneal thickness measurement for both eyes performed in the last 3 months
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) including retinal nerve fiber layer results
- Optic disc photos
- Gonioscopy test results
- 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.
The referral should note that the request is for advice on, or review of, the current management plan as requests for a second opinion will usually not be accepted.
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
- Requests for the diagnosis or ongoing management of glaucoma suspect, ocular hypertension or stable early and moderate glaucoma.
Reviewed 26 May 2025