Cataracts and assessment for cataract surgery – Adult
Cataracts and assessment for cataract surgery – Adult
Emergency and immediate referrals
Referral to Emergency
Immediately contact on-call registrar to arrange an urgent (within 7 days) ophthalmology assessment for:
Presenting symptoms |
Patient requests surgery for documented cataract with either:
- Significant symptoms that affect the person’s quality of life and / or activities of daily living (ADLs) (e.g. light or glare sensitivity, ability to drive, recognise faces, work or self-care and increased risk of falls)
- In the absence of significant symptoms, visual acuity 6/12 or worse in the affected eye
|
Mandatory referral information (referral will be returned if this information is not included) |
- Detailed patient information including:
- Vision limited activities
- Duration of symptoms
- Relevant examinations/investigations;
- Functional impact of symptoms on daily activities including impact on work, study or carer role
- State if patient has had previous cataract surgery
- Statement that the patient has indicated interest in having surgical treatment
- Most recent optometrist or private ophthalmologist report including:
- Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) – vision with most recent distance spectacles
- Type of cataract
- Refraction
- Dilated retinal examination
- If unable to attach reports please include relevant information/results in the referral
- Referrer to state reason if not able to include in referral
Note: This information is required to triage accurately, within a clinically suitable timeframe |
Highly desirable referral information |
- If person is a carer, falls risk or commercial driver with specific visual acuity requirements for employment
- Assessment of vision-related activity limitations using a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) such as Catquest-9SF
|
Indicative triage category
Indicative triage category |
Cat 1
Appointment within 30 days |
-
Documented cataract with significant impact on activities of daily living (ADL) and BCVA worse than 6/36 in each eye cataract inducing high intraocular pressure (phacomorphic/phacolytic)
|
Cat 2
Appointment within 90 days |
- Documented cataract with significant impact on ADL and:
- BCVA worse than 6/36 in one eye or
- BCVA worse than 6/12 in each eye
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Cat 3
Appointment within 365 days |
- Documented cataract with significant impact on quality of life +/- ADL and BCVA worse than 6/12 in either eye
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Excluded ophthalmology services
Referral to public ophthalmology outpatient services is not routinely accepted for the following conditions:
Condition |
Details (where applicable) |
Cataract |
- Patients who do not want surgery will not be accepted
- No visual acuity criteria
- Asymptomatic cataract where optical correction is possible
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Useful Information for referring practitioners
More information
Email: DOHSpecialistRAC@health.wa.gov.au