Ophthalmology

1. Urgent referrals should always be made by a phone call to the ophthalmology registrar/RMO or emergency department, with a written referral given to the patient.
2. Please include copies of all reports and results with referrals
3. In literate children with suspected vision issues, an optometrist report stating their vision level is required
4. Patients are seen based on urgency, according to criteria developed by the WCH medical staff.
5. Please do not write referrals to specific consultants. All referrals to ophthalmology at WCH are pooled.

Any referrals received for the conditions below will not be accepted and sent back to the referrer.

• Chalazion with duration less than 3 months, for children under 4 years of age
• Chalazion with duration less than 6 months, for children aged 4 and over
• Uncomplicated congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) under 24 months of age
• Diabetic Retinopathy screening in literate children
• Second opinions
• Atropine treatment or contact lenses for progressive myopia
• Keratoconus – treatment is not provided for this condition at WCH.
• Dyslexia (coloured overlay/colourimetry assessment)
• Refractive Error (without strabismus) with normal visual acuities for age when wearing glasses – these patients should be managed by a local optometrist.
• Contact lens clinic referrals that do not meet the Glasses SA criteria – both the clinical and financial requirements must be met for referrals to be accepted.

Please refer patients with the above conditions to a private ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Orthoptic Clinics are held most days in Paediatric Outpatients Area 3. Orthoptists are university-trained, allied health professionals, who are specifically trained in a range of eye tests to assist the medical team.

The orthoptic team perform the following tests on behalf of the ophthalmologists; vision assessment for all ages and abilities, visual field testing, eye movement assessments, squint assessment and measurement, ocular photography and a range of eye scans.

The orthoptic team also staff regular standalone clinics for patients who require review of their vision or eye position, and manage lazy vision (amblyopia) on behalf of the ophthalmologists.

A secondary vision screening service is provided to specific areas of the northern suburbs following an incomplete or failed check by a Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) nurse who attended your child’s kindy. This service only sees children who are between 4–5 years of age, with no significant development delays or other issues that mean a comprehensive ophthalmology assessment is recommended.

Secondary screening allows the orthoptic team to reassess children who have not passed the vision check, using a different type of vision test and gain more detailed clinical information.

These clinics run at four different locations every 8 weeks:

• Elizabeth CaFHS
• Salisbury CaFHS
• Enfield CaFHS
• Woodville CaFHS

Patients who meet the appropriate criteria can be referred into the contact lens service at WCH – all patients must meet both the clinical and financial criteria outlined by the Glasses SA Scheme for the referral to be accepted by Ophthalmology.

These patients will be allocated to an ophthalmology consultant, who will assess the patient and make the final decision whether contact lenses are clinically required before seeing the department optometrist.

Electrodiagnostic vision tests are provided through the Neurology Department at the WCH.

To make a required for electrophysiology diagnostic procedure, medical practitioners are required to:

1. Download and print the WCHN Neurology Electrophysiology Request Form
2. Fill out for the form with appropriate details and fax completed form to (08) 8161 6224.

General

• Aids To Help Glasses Fit
• Amblyopia (lazy vision)
• Atropine For Amblyopia (lazy vision)
• Getting The Right Glasses for Your Child
• How To Make an Eye Patch
• Patching for Amblyopia (lazy vision)

Surgical

• Blocked Tear Ducts
• Chalazion Surgery
• Crawford Tubes – Insertion and Removal
• Examination Under Anaesthetic (EUA)
• Squint Surgery

Specialist

• Eye Checks for Bone Marrow Transplant Patients
• Pre-packed Dilating Eye Drop
• Uveitis in JIA

Contact Lens

• Soft Lenses – Information for new patients and families
• Replacing contact lenses
• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses – Information for new patients and families

About Your Visit/Appointment

• Coming to the Ophthalmology Clinic
• Coming to Orthoptist-only Appointment
• Coming to Contact Lens Clinic

South Australian Visual Impairment Organisations

• Royal Guide Dogs Australia – Supports independence, participation, inclusion and wellbeing for people with vision impairment, children with autism and their families
• Can:Do 4Kids – Helps and support children with hearing and vision challenges
• Royal Society for the Blind – A not-for-profit organisation providing services to Australians who have a severe vision impairment

Australian Visual Impairment Organisations

• NextSense (formerly Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children – A large children’s charity that supports patients with hearing and vision impairments
• Vision Australia – A large not-for-profit organisation providing low vision services in Australia

Condition-specific Support Organisations

• Arthritis Australia – An organisation with resources available to patients with arthritis and uveitis (eye inflammation)
• Cataract Kids Australia – An Australian charity designed to improve support for children with cataracts and their families
• UsherKids Australia – A charity committed to making a difference to those families who children have been diagnosed with Usher syndrome in Australia
• Batten Disease Support and Research Association – Batten Disease support