​​​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:

  • new cataract for aged < 3 years old
  • cataract with red eye
  • cataract with nystagmus
  • cataract with congenital glaucoma.

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • Screening for cataract aged > 8 years that do not have current treatment regime, medication or systemic disease that may cause development of cataract.
  • Screening for cataract aged > 8 years due to family history of congenital cataract.

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days.
  • Aged between 3 to 8 years with concerns of poor vision due to cataract.
  • Aged > 8 years with developmental delay or other issues that does not allow referrer to assess visual acuity.
  • Patient requires cataract surgery referred by private ophthalmologist.
Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days.
  • Aged > 8 years with newly recognised cataract.
  • Aged > 3 years with documented or suspected cataract and vision 6/12 or worse in affected eye.
  • Aged < 8 years and screening for cataract due to current treatment regime, medication or systemic disease that may cause development of cataract.
  • Aged < 8 years with family history of congenital cataract.
Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days.

Aged > 8 years with previous congenital cataract surgery (without glaucoma).

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Visual acuity (in each eye) from an eye health professional (optometrist, orthoptist or ophthalmologist) (patient aged > 8 years only).
  • Refraction (patient aged > 8 years only).
  • Interpreter required (if so, preferred language).

If available

  • Patient health summary (including relevant medical history and current medications).
  • Family history of congenital cataract.
  • Birth and pregnancy history.
  • 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.

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.​​​

​Contact us

If you would like to provide feedback about the contents of this page, please submit an enquiry to the SRC project team at NSW Health.

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Current as at: Wednesday 14 February 2024
Contact page owner: System Purchasing