Referral to emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • acute unilateral red eye with vision loss
  • red eye in previous corneal transplant

Please contact the on-call registrar to discuss your concerns prior to referral.

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network 

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Exclusions

  • stable allergic eye disease
  • mild allergic eye disease without corneal involvement who have not attempted first line medical management
  • acute conjunctivitis without corneal involvement
  • recurrent corneal erosions

Triage categories

Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)

  • keratoconjunctivitis with corneal involvement
  • herpetic eye disease
  • acute anterior uveitis
  • scleritis
  • anterior uveitis with increased intraocular pressure (IOP)
  • acute unilateral red eye with vision loss
  • off axis corneal ulceration unresponsive to medical/allied health treatment

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • keratoconjunctivitis with corneal involvement

Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)

  • mild allergic eye disease without corneal involvement unresponsive to topical anti-histamines, and/or mast cell stabilisers
  • recurrent episcleritis

For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information page.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • relevant social history, including identifying if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter required
  • relevant past medical/surgical history
    • sexual history
    • gonococcal conjunctivitis
  • current medications, allergies
  • ocular history, including:
    • other eye conditions
    • eye trauma
    • surgery and medical management
    • medications trialled including mast cell stabiliser use and oral/topical anti-histamine administration
  • eye and vision examination both eyes:
    • visual acuity utilising most recent distance spectacles
    • check for corneal epithelial damage with fluorescein
    • intraocular pressure (IOP) where appropriate
    • pupil examination where appropriate
  • optometrist report within 24hours of referral
  • photograph with patient’s consent, where secure image transfer, identification and storage is possible where appropriate

Clinical management advice

Many acute red eye presentations can be effectively managed by a therapeutically endorsed optometrist.

Slit lamp examination is crucial in distinguishing between different acute red eye presentations and deciding if hospital-based care is appropriate.

Individuals who have been referred for specialist outpatient service assessment of red eye, should be closely monitored until they are examined by an ophthalmologist to ensure that their condition doesn't worsen. Where clinical signs of deterioration occur, please contact the nearest ophthalmology service to discuss your concerns.

Clinical resources

Consumer resources