Opthalmology referrals

COVID-19: Temporary guidelines for outpatient and ocular
emergency referral

For the duration of COVID-19 outbreak we will be operating emergency based service. We aim to reduce number of patients attending and reduce their time spent in hospital.
We will continue to accept patients with sight threatening conditions and Eye Casualty will continue working on full capacity and will be staffed with a doctor at all time. However the safety of our patients and staff is our priority and therefore we will take precautions to isolate the high risk patients into side rooms without entering the main department and waiting area.
If you are uncertain about the severity of case, we have set up telemedicine
link to talk to patients directly via videocall to triage and give advice to patients directly. We can use Microsoft Teams app or Facetime app.
All patients will be triaged taking into account the presence of respiratory
symptoms prior to accepting the referrals.
A. Patients with mild to moderate ocular symptoms are advised to stay at home. These include:

• All conjunctivitis patients (red watery eyes with discharge or epiphora)- if purulent discharge is present advise to use over the counter Oc.Chloramphenicol tid for 1 week
• Conjunctivitis in Contact lens wearers should be treated with G.Ofloxacin 2 hourly and contact us if deterioration felt after 48 hours.
• Mild to moderate ocular discomfort with preserved vision- viscotears gel prn and lid hygiene advice
• Exacerbation of chronic problems- we will be happy to take telemedicine call if pain is present.
• Floaters and flashes
• B. Patients with severe eye pain/sudden loss of vision will be advised to
  attend (those with respiratory symptoms and severe eye pain/sudden
  loss of vision will be advised to attend but will be seen in isolation
  room). Urgent conditions to be seen on the same day include:
  • Corneal or Intraocular foreign body
  • Sudden loss of vision
  • Suspected globe rupture
  • Suspected acute angle closure glaucoma (nausea, vomiting, pain,
  headache)
  • Suspected Endophthalmitis
  • Suspected Orbital cellulitis
  • New onset of double vision and headache
  • Suspected Retinal detachment (visual field defect)