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Ophthalmology (Eye Clinic)
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for assessment and management of adult and paediatric eye conditions.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North
A public eye clinic is not available in the North. See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information.
North West
A public eye clinic is not available in the North. See Health Pathways Tasmania for more information.
Emergency conditions
Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list):
- Sudden loss of vision
- Acute orbital compartment symptom requires emergency lateral cantholysis - refer supected cases in a time critical manor.
- Chemical injury eye: irrigate immediately prior to referral
- Amaurosis fugax (transient loss of vision)
- Suspected giant cell arteritis or other vasculitis: refer immediately; don't wait for test results
- Suspected papilloedema
- Painful red eye
- Significant ocular or orbital pain
- Red, watery or discharging eye with reduced vision
- Acute angle closure glaucoma (severe, acute onset ocular pain with a fixed, mid-dilated pupil and often associated nausea and vomiting)
- Ocular, lid or orbital trauma
- Sudden onset diplopia or ptosis
- Sudden onset facial nerve palsy/inability to close eyes
- Sudden reduction in vision or metamorphopsia (distortion of central vision)
- Sudden uniocular changes in vision ± floaters or flashes and/or visual field disturbance
- Orbital or preseptal cellulitis or acute dacryocystitis
- Infant with epiphora, photophobia, and blepharospasm. Suspicion congenital glaucoma
- Child with white pupillary reflex
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
Some conditions are not routinely seen at the Royal Hobart Hospital Eye Clinic and may be appropriately managed by the general practitioner or a local ophthalmologist or optometrist until they reach the clinical thresholds identified in the Referral Guidelines. Learn more about Ophthalmology Community Care.
Patients with permanent low vision which cannot be corrected by glasses and affects daily functioning can be referred to Lions Low Vision Clinic.
Referral process
A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the referral standards. eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service and is available in All regions. Please refer via HealthLink SmartForm eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see the creating an eReferral quick guide.
Please ask patients to bring all their glasses to their appointment.
Most patients attending the Eye Clinic will require drops to dilate their pupils. Inform all patients that the instillation of eye drops may blur their vision. Therefore they should not drive a motor vehicle but should arrange to be driven or use other transport.
Appointments are based on clinical priority.
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Clinic appointments
Urgent (Category 1)
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.
We will try to see these patients within ten days, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
We will try to see these patients within 12 weeks.
Routine (Category 3)
Next available appointment.
