For Referrers
Clinical Referral Hub
Decision-support criteria, referral templates, patient resources, and contact details for GPs and optometrists referring to Northern Eye Consultants.
Clinical Referral Criteria
Decision-support criteria for common referral scenarios. For clinical uncertainty, call our rooms on 03 9466 8822 — we are happy to advise on urgency.
Cataracts
Urgent
- Rapid vision deterioration impairing independent living or safety
- BCVA <6/60 — severely impairing
- Phacolytic or phacomorphic glaucoma
- Intumescent lens at risk of angle closure
Semi-urgent
- BCVA worse than 6/12 in better eye
- Driving impaired — patient has ceased or is unsafe to drive
- Occupational visual demands not met despite optimal refraction
- Bilateral dense cataracts
Routine
- BCVA 6/9–6/12, gradual functional decline
- Difficulty with reading, night driving, glare
- Frequent prescription changes
- Patient requesting surgical assessment
Bilateral cataracts
Surgery is staged (one eye at a time, 1–4 weeks apart). Include VA each eye separately.
Glaucoma
Urgent
- Acute angle closure — severe eye pain, nausea, halos, red eye, blurred vision
- IOP >40 mmHg on any single measurement
- Rapid, dense new visual field loss
- Suspected neovascular glaucoma
Semi-urgent
- IOP consistently 30–40 mmHg on serial measurements
- New optic disc cupping or cup:disc ratio >0.7
- Suspicious optic disc with asymmetric cupping
- Established glaucoma with suboptimal IOP control
Routine
- Ocular hypertension (IOP 22–29 mmHg) — no disc or field changes
- Family history — first-degree relative with glaucoma, for screening
- Suspicious optic disc, stable, no field change
- Established glaucoma — well-controlled, annual review
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Urgent
- New sudden onset metamorphopsia (straight lines appearing wavy)
- Sudden central vision loss or scotoma — new onset
- Rapid acuity decline in known AMD patient
- These suggest wet (neovascular) AMD — time-critical for anti-VEGF treatment
Semi-urgent
- Intermediate AMD (large drusen) with new subjective change
- Positive Amsler grid distortion — stable but newly detected
- Fellow eye of wet AMD patient for monitoring
Routine
- Early AMD — small/medium drusen without symptoms
- Baseline OCT and monitoring for at-risk patients (age >60, family history)
- AREDS2 supplement review and lifestyle counselling
- Geographic atrophy, stable and monitored
Note: Provide an Amsler grid to all AMD patients for home monitoring. Any new distortion = urgent review.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Urgent
- Sudden vision loss in a diabetic patient
- Vitreous haemorrhage suspected (sudden floaters, dark curtain)
- Pre-proliferative or proliferative DR identified on screening — new neovascularisation
- Tractional retinal detachment
Semi-urgent
- Clinically significant macular oedema on optometry or screening
- Moderate-severe NPDR on screening
- Overdue diabetic eye screening (>2 years no review) with visual symptoms
- Pre-operative review before cataract surgery (HbA1c, DMO status)
Routine / Screening intervals
- Type 1 diabetes: from age 12 or 5 years post-diagnosis, then annually
- Type 2 diabetes: at diagnosis, then annually if no retinopathy
- No retinopathy: annual screening (optometry or ophthalmology)
- Mild NPDR: annual ophthalmology review
- Moderate NPDR: 6-monthly ophthalmology review
- Pregnancy with diabetes: refer at first trimester, monitor throughout
How to Refer
We welcome referrals from GPs and optometrists across Melbourne's northern suburbs and beyond. Our reception team contacts the patient directly to arrange an appointment. For clinical questions before referring, please call our rooms.
HealthLink (preferred)
EDI address: nthneyec
Fax
03 9466 8833
Phone
03 9466 8822
Post
Suite 5, 135 Plenty Road, Bundoora VIC 3083
Address referrals to a specific subspecialist
Referral Letter Template
Include the following information to help us triage and prepare for your patient's visit. Items marked * are essential.
Template structure
Patient demographics*
- Full name and date of birth
- Contact phone number
- Medicare number and card expiry
- Private health insurance fund and membership number (if applicable)
Reason for referral*
- Primary presenting complaint and duration
- Specific clinical question or request (e.g. 'cataract assessment for driving impairment')
- Urgency — routine / semi-urgent / urgent, and brief reason
Visual and ocular findings*
- Best corrected visual acuity (each eye separately)
- Current glasses prescription if available
- IOP if measured (for glaucoma referrals)
- Relevant findings on fundoscopy or slit-lamp if assessed
Medical history
- Relevant past ocular history (prior eye surgery, amblyopia, trauma)
- Systemic conditions relevant to eye health (diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disease)
- Current medications — especially anticoagulants, steroids, Tamsulosin/alpha-blockers (IFIS risk for cataract surgery)
- Allergies
Investigations
- OCT results (attach or note finding)
- Visual field results (attach if available)
- Retinal photographs (attach if available)
- HbA1c for diabetic patients
- ESR/CRP if giant cell arteritis is in the differential
Functional context
- Driving status — holds licence? Ceased driving?
- Occupational visual requirements
- Patient's own goals and expectations for surgery
Medicare rebate guidance
- Referral validity: GP referrals are valid for 12 months from the patient's first specialist attendance. Note "indefinite" for ongoing chronic conditions (e.g. glaucoma, AMD).
- Specialist consultations (items 104–107): attract a Medicare rebate for referred patients. Private specialist fees typically exceed the schedule fee; a gap applies.
- Cataract surgery (item 42698 +): Medicare-rebatable as a medically necessary procedure. Hospital and lens costs are separate. Ensure the referral documents functional impairment to support clinical indication.
- Intravitreal injections (item 42738): Medicare-rebatable; indicate AMD or DMO in the referral to support clinical context.
- Premium IOLs: not covered by Medicare or PHI — patient-funded addition. Note if the patient has specific lens preferences.
What Happens After Referral
Understanding the patient journey helps you set expectations with your patient and ensures continuity of care between our practice and yours.
Appointment Booking
Our reception contacts the patient within 1–2 business days of receiving the referral to schedule their appointment. Urgent referrals are triaged the same day — call us if the patient hasn't heard within 24 hours.
Specialist Consultation
The patient attends for a comprehensive assessment with the relevant subspecialist. Biometry (for cataract), OCT, visual fields, and other investigations are performed as clinically indicated — usually at the same visit.
Surgical or Treatment Planning
Where surgery or intravitreal injection is indicated, the surgeon discusses the plan with the patient, provides a written fee estimate, and books the procedure at Northpark Private Hospital, Bundoora.
Correspondence to the Referrer
A clinic letter is sent to the referring GP or optometrist after each consultation and after each surgical episode. Letters summarise findings, the treatment plan, and any action required by the referring practitioner.
What the GP receives after a consultation
- Clinic letter summarising history, examination findings, and diagnosis
- Recommended management plan and follow-up schedule
- Medication changes or additions
- Results of investigations performed at the visit
- Any action requested of the GP (e.g. HbA1c, BP, medication review)
What the GP receives after cataract surgery
- Surgical report detailing the procedure, lens implanted, and any intraoperative findings
- Post-operative instructions and medication prescribed
- Day-1 review findings
- Recommended follow-up schedule (typically at 1 week and 4–6 weeks)
- Final visual outcome letter at 4–6 weeks with updated refraction
Contacting us between appointments
If you have a clinical concern about a patient who is under our care, please call our rooms directly. We will make every effort to advise you or arrange an expedited review.
Call 03 9466 8822Urgent Referrals — Call First
For urgent or semi-urgent referrals, call us directly on 03 9466 8822 before sending the letter. Our team will advise on the appropriate timeframe and hold an appointment.
- ▸Sudden loss or change in vision (any cause)
- ▸New floaters with flashes — possible retinal tear or detachment
- ▸New metamorphopsia — possible wet AMD
- ▸Acute painful red eye — possible acute angle closure
- ▸Suspected giant cell arteritis (jaw claudication, scalp tenderness, elevated ESR/CRP)
- ▸Chemical or traumatic eye injury (irrigate first, then call)
- ▸New diplopia or acute ptosis
- ▸Vitreous haemorrhage — sudden dense floaters, reduced vision
After Hours & Emergencies
Northern Eye Consultants operates Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm. For after-hours eye emergencies, patients should present to the nearest emergency department with ophthalmology services — the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is the primary tertiary referral centre for ophthalmic emergencies in Melbourne.
Our doctors provide after-hours cover for their established patients via Northpark Private Hospital's on-call arrangements. For acute concerns regarding an established patient outside business hours, contact the Northpark Private Hospital switchboard.
Emergency resources
- Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital ED: (03) 9929 8666
- Northpark Private Hospital: (03) 9468 6666
- NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 60 60 24
Referral Forms
We accept referrals in any written format. Our pre-formatted forms are optional but simplify the process — particularly for cataract referrals where pre-operative information is required.
Patient Handouts for GPs to Print
The following patient information resources are available to open in a new tab and print directly from the browser. Designed for A4 print — use your browser's print function or save as PDF.
Preparing for Cataract Surgery
What to do before surgery day — fasting, medications, transport, what to bring, and what to expect on arrival at Northpark Hospital.
Open to PrintCataract Surgery Recovery Guide
Post-operative care instructions including eye drop routine, activity restrictions, warning signs, and the follow-up appointment schedule.
Open to PrintYour IOL Options Explained
A plain-English guide to intraocular lens choices — monofocal, toric, EDOF, and multifocal — to help patients understand what to discuss with their surgeon.
Open to PrintFrequently Asked Questions — GPs & Optometrists
When should I refer for cataract surgery?
Refer when cataracts are causing functional impairment that affects the patient's quality of life or safety — typically when best corrected visual acuity falls below 6/12 in the better eye, or when the patient reports significant difficulty driving (especially at night), reading, or performing occupational tasks. There is no need to wait until the cataract is 'ripe'. A referral for assessment is appropriate whenever the GP or optometrist suspects the cataract is clinically significant.
What are the referral criteria for cataract surgery in Australia?
Medicare requires cataract surgery to be clinically indicated. Key criteria include: best corrected visual acuity worse than 6/12 in the better eye; functional impairment affecting driving, work, or activities of daily living; failure to achieve 6/9 visual acuity despite optimised refraction in patients with occupational visual demands; and significantly asymmetric cataract causing anisometropia or binocular vision problems. Include visual acuity measurements, cataract grade if available, and functional impact in the referral letter.
How do I grade urgency for eye referrals?
Urgent (same-day or next available): sudden vision loss, new floaters with flashes, suspected retinal detachment, acute painful red eye, suspected giant cell arteritis, sudden diplopia. Semi-urgent (within 1–2 weeks): new field defect, rapidly progressive vision loss, elevated IOP >30mmHg, new wet AMD (distortion/metamorphopsia). Routine: stable cataract causing gradual functional decline, dry AMD monitoring, stable glaucoma review, refractive assessment. When in doubt, call our rooms on 03 9466 8822 — we are happy to advise on appropriate urgency.
What is the HealthLink EDI address for Northern Eye Consultants?
Our HealthLink EDI address is nthneyec. Electronic referrals via HealthLink are the preferred method as they reach us immediately and allow secure two-way correspondence. We also accept referrals by fax (03 9466 8833) or post (Suite 5, 135 Plenty Road, Bundoora VIC 3083).
When should I refer urgently for glaucoma?
Refer urgently for: acute angle closure (sudden severe eye pain, nausea, halos around lights, red eye, reduced vision) — this is an ophthalmic emergency requiring same-day treatment; IOP consistently above 30 mmHg on serial measurement; rapid visual field progression; new or worsening optic disc cupping. Refer routinely for: ocular hypertension (IOP 22–29 mmHg) without disc or field changes for monitoring; suspected normal tension glaucoma; family history screening in high-risk individuals.
When should I refer urgently for AMD?
Refer urgently (within days) for any patient with known or suspected AMD who reports new or sudden onset visual distortion, metamorphopsia (straight lines appearing wavy), or sudden central vision loss — these suggest conversion to wet (neovascular) AMD, where early anti-VEGF treatment significantly improves visual outcomes. Refer routinely for patients with drusen or dry AMD for baseline OCT, monitoring, and AREDS2 supplement counselling.
Subspecialty Expertise
Address referrals to a specific subspecialist or send a general referral — our team will route appropriately.
Cataract Surgery
Phacoemulsification with full range of premium IOL options. Dr MacIntyre, Dr Fagan, Dr Soares, Dr Goh, Dr Sousa, Dr Fraser.
Glaucoma
Medical, laser (SLT), MIGS, trabeculectomy, tube surgery. Dr Soares.
Medical Retina
AMD, diabetic retinopathy, intravitreal injections, retinal vein occlusion. Dr Fagan, Dr Goh.
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Optic neuritis, visual field defects, diplopia, papilloedema. Dr Fraser.
Oculoplastics
Ptosis, ectropion, entropion, periocular tumours, DCR, blepharoplasty. Dr Satchi.
Corneal Disease
Keratoconus, corneal infections, corneal transplantation, dry eye. Dr MacIntyre.
Refractive Surgery
LASIK, PRK, SMILE, refractive lens exchange, ICL. Dr MacIntyre.
Vitreoretinal Surgery
Retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, vitreous haemorrhage. Dr Sousa.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Screening, monitoring, laser, and intravitreal anti-VEGF. Dr Fagan, Dr Goh.