Who can refer
Referrals are accepted from GPs, opticians, consultants and health professionals. Patients are also welcome to self-refer.
How to refer
You can refer by phone, fax, email or letter. Details available on our contacts page.
When to refer
Correctly diagnosing retinal disease can be difficult in general practice. Many GPs do not feel confident using a direct ophthalmoscope and it is not a tool ideally designed to pick up subtle macular changes.
For patients with chronic blurred vision: it is often worthwhile referring to an optician who may be better able to triage. Many cases turn out to be an uncorrected refractive error.
For patients with acutely blurred or distorted vision or symptoms of retinal detachment (flashing lights, floaters, visual field defects): Refer urgently.
For urgent private referrals please call Professor Jackson’s secretary on 020 7060 1968 – she can advise whether he will be able to see the patiently urgently or recommend alternatives if he is not available.
Referral guidelines
The list below aims to help you prioritise referrals. Click the hyperlinks for further clinical information.
This information (also available as a PDF) is offered as a guide only, as clinical situations vary. If in doubt, please contact Professor Jackson for advice.
Immediate referral
- Central retinal artery occlusion (or branch retinal artery occlusion with macular involvement) of < 24 hours duration.
- Retinal detachment (keep nil by mouth).
Within 24-48 hours
- Branch retinal artery occlusion not involving the macula
- Symptomatic/acute retinal tears
- Central retinal artery occlusion > 24 hours duration
- Symptomatic/acute posterior vitreous detachment with flashes and floaters
- Vitreous haemorrhage
Urgent (within 1-2 weeks)
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- New wet age-related macular degeneration
- Toxic maculopathy
- Branch retinal vein occlusion
- Central retinal vein occlusion
Soon (within one month)
- Severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Diabetic maculopathy
- Macular hole
- Pseudophakic macular oedema
- Central serous chorioretinopathy
- Retinal macroaneurysm
Routine
- Cataracts
- Mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or background diabetic retinopathy
- Epiretinal membrane
- Atrophic (dry) age-related macular degeneration where choroidal neovascular membrane has been excluded
- Vitreomacular traction
- Lattice degeneration with atrophic round holes
- Choroidal naevus
- Retinitis pigmentosa or other pigmentary retinopathy
- Blepharitis
- Chalazion
- Hypertensive retinopathy (treat hypertension urgently)
- Best disease
- Stargardt disease
- Macular telangiectasia