​​​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

  • Optometrist, orthoptist or ophthalmologist report including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field tests and disc assessment.
  • Interpreter required (if so, preferred language).

If available

  • Patient health summary (including relevant medical history and current medications).
  • 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 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.

Submit an enquiry

Other adult conditions with referral criteria

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