Retinal vein occlusion – Adult

Emergency and immediate referrals

Referral to Emergency:

  • Nil

Immediately contact on-call registrar to arrange an urgent (within 7 days) ophthalmology assessment for:

  • All central retinal vein occlusions
  • Branch retinal vein occlusion with recent decrease in vision

To contact the relevant service, please refer to HealthPathways Acute Ophthalmology Assessment (seen within 7 days).

Presenting symptoms
  • Painless blurring or loss of vision in eye progressively worsening
Mandatory referral information (referral will be returned if this information is not included)
  • Description and impact of symptoms
  • Details and duration of treatments
  • Most recent optometrist or private ophthalmologist report including:
    • Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) - vision with most recent distance spectacles
    • Refraction
    • Impact of symptoms
  • 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
  • Other relevant optometrist or ophthalmologist reports/results if available and where providing it will not delay care:
    • Intraocular pressure (IOP)
  • Recent blood tests including:
    • Cholesterol
    • FBC
    • LFT
    • Lipids
    • BSL
    • Thrombothelial screen in <55 or known thrombotic disorders
  • Blood pressure 
Indicative triage category
Indicative triage category
Cat 1
Appointment within 30 days
  • No category 1 criteria
Cat 2
Appointment within 90 days
  • Branch retinal vein occlusion without recent decrease in vision
Cat 3
Appointment within 365 days
  • No category 3 criteria
Useful Information for referring practitioners

More information

Email: DOHSpecialistRAC@health.wa.gov.au