New statewide referral criteria for a range of children’s ophthalmology conditions come into effect from 1 December 2025 in all Victorian public hospitals.
Patients can be placed on a specialist clinic wait list when a referring GP provides information that shows the referral meets the new children’s ophthalmology criteria.
The criteria identify the information that should be included in a referral to assess the referral and direct the patient to the best service available.
The Victorian Department of Health has developed and published statewide specialist referral criteria for a further eight children’s ophthalmology conditions. The children’s ophthalmology suite is among 19 suites of specialist referral criteria already in existence across Victoria.
Children’s ophthalmology conditions:
- Chalazions in children
- Corneal conditions in children
- Eye movement and alignment disorders in children
- Optic nerve head swelling (papilloedema) in children
- Ptosis in children
- Pupil abnormalities in children
- Reduced vision in children
- Red or watery eyes in children
All statewide referral criteria can be found here.
GPs and other primary care providers are encouraged to check HealthPathways Melbourne when making referrals – this will be the quickest way to understand a local public hospital’s requirements. It is also a helpful way to troubleshoot management of these conditions when a referral to specialist clinics is not indicated.
