The Ophthalmology eye unit is an acute ophthalmology and surgical ophthalmology service.

Conditions seen

Barwon Health offers an Ophthalmology service for the following conditions:

  • Emergencies, injuries & trauma, including sudden loss of vision, sudden onset of new blurred vision or distorted central vision, ocular conditions impacting vision (red, painful eye), peri-orbital and orbital cellulitis, optic neuritis, acute angle glaucoma, Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) & other vascular diseases, raised intracranial pressure (+/- neurological signs/ symptoms), new vitreous haemorrhage, floaters & flashes, chemical burns, retinal detachments/tears, corneal foreign bodies or ulcers
  • Cataract – symptomatic, with optometrist or ophthalmologist report
  • Corneal disease
  • Severe diabetic eye disease
  • Eye lid lesions
  • Eye lid conditions (e.g. entropion/ectropion/ ptosis) – symptomatic
  • Retinal disorders
  • Strabismus (squint) – adults & children
  • Paediatric eye conditions
  • Neurological conditions affecting the eye

Conditions not seen

Barwon Health Ophthalmology does not accept referrals for the following conditions:

  • Chronic eye conditions including dry eyes, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, epiphora, simple floaters
  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – asymptomatic or chronic (no ongoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment available)
  • Diabetes – newly diagnosed, for screening purposes, minimal/mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
  • Entropion/Ectropion – no corneal involvement or lid irritation
  • Retinal – asymptomatic epiretinal membrane (ERM), non-sight threatening
  • Screening for eye disease

How do I access this service

To be seen in the Ophthalmology specialist clinic you need to be referred by your GP, another specialist doctor,  your Barwon Health doctor or your Optometrist.

We are unable to see you in our clinics without a referral.

Wait time

All requests for specialist clinic appointments are scheduled according to the patient’s clinical need. Clinicians assess whether an appointment is urgent or routine, based on information provided in the referral.

Barwon Health aims to see all ‘urgent’ referrals within 30 days. Our wait times for patients who are categorised as ‘routine’ are more variable, depending on the demand for our services.

The Victorian Agency for Health Information also publishes information about the waiting time for routine first appointments.

Routine first appointments | Victorian Agency for Health Information

Speciality
Projected wait time

No Wait times to show

For Health Professionals

State-referral criteria may apply for conditions under this specialty requiring further assessment and management. Referring clinicians are encouraged to utilise Western Victoria Community HealthPathways for referral guidelines and requirements for all conditions.

For urgent referral advice, please contact the specialty on-call registrar via Barwon Health switchboard on 03 4215 0000.

Complete the specialist clinics referral template and send via:

  • ReferralNet
  • Fax: 03 4215 1383

Referral templates for Barwon Health services are available for importing into Best Practice, Medical Director or ZedMed. Please see the Referral templates page for the most up-to-date forms.

If you do not use the above clinical software, please complete a referral letter on your practice/health service letterhead, ensuring all required referral information is included.

If you need to contact us regarding the templates, please contact the GP Liaison Unit on 03 4215 8845 or [email protected].

For patients who require reassessment, a new referral should be sent through. To facilitate earlier access, the new referral must contain the following information:

  • State the referral is an update for a current patient
  • Date of original referral
  • Reason for requesting a review of referral (e.g. deterioration in clinical condition, pathology)

The referrer will be notified of the outcome of the re-triage process.

GPs or referring doctors wishing to discuss the triage of their patient’s referral, or who require additional information, please ring the GP hotline on 03 4215 1398.

Page last updated: September 9, 2025