​​​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:

  • sudden loss of vision
  • new onset of reduced central vision and/or distortion due to wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • new fluid on a macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan consistent with wet AMD.

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

  • Family history but asymptomatic.
  • Retinal pigment epithelial changes (previously called dry age-related macular degeneration).
  • Drusen.
  • Patients able to continue anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in the community.

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days

None - a new diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) should be seen as an Emergency.

Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days

Patients who are unable to continue receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in the community.

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) by eye health professional.
  • Retinal imaging or optical coherence tomography (OCT) results.
  • Optometrist, orthoptist or ophthalmologist report, including visual acuity, refraction and retinal examination.
  • Interpreter required (if so, preferred language).

If available

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

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Other adult conditions with referral criteria

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