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Optometrists are an integral part of community eye services. Many ophthalmic conditions can be diagnosed, managed and observed with the expertise of our primary care optometry colleagues.
For queries regarding referral to secondary care please refer to ‘urgency of the condition’ and the referral guidance below. Please see ‘how to refer’ for contact details.
If a referral to secondary care is required please ensure that patients are aware of the reason(s) for referral.
There are a number of guidelines for optometrists.
- Glaucoma referral guidelines
- Lothian cataract referral guidelines
- Paediatric referral guidelines
- Vein or Arterial Occlusions Any BRVO with reduction in vision (i.e. cystoid macular oedema present) should be referred to PAEP clinic for review in 1-2/52 and possible listing for treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF.
Any BRVO with no reduction in vision (i.e. no CMO) should be referred routinely to PAEP OPD. Patient should be advised to attend their GP within 1-2/52 for BP check and routine blood tests. - Diabetic retinopathy
- Wet and Dry AMD
- Squint/amblopia Guidelines
Lothian Eye Health Network Resources
Here you can download the LEHN poster for display in your practice, the triage form (to assist staff in appointing patients) and the LEHN GP Reply Form (this can be used to send a note to the patient’s GP when a patient is referred to you)
Referral Forms
All optometrists in Lothian now have access to SCI-Gateway and referrals should be sent using this system wherever possible. If this is not possible, or if you are sending a referral with a patient to ARC then you can use these printable versions of the old forms. There are 2 versions – one which can be completed electronically, then printed, which is much preferred, or a blank version which can be printed and completed by hand.
- General referral form 001 (Electronic) General referral form 001 (printable for completion by hand)
- Acute referral Form 002 (Electronic) Acute referral form (printable for completion by hand)
- Cataract referral form 003 (Electronic) Catarct referral form ( printable for completion by hand )
Discretionary Couchers or Adult Repairs
Discretionary voucher for a second pair of glasses or to request authorisation for a repair to the glasses of an adult – note that discretionary vouchers will not be authorised for hospital patients, if they require multiple pairs of glasses these should be supplied by the HES and that adult repairs will only be authorised if the breakage or loss happened due to illness or disability. Please find the link for the discretionary voucher here
IT Support for Electronic Referrals
