Ophthalmological Headache
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North South North West Statewide
This condition is treated in the Ophthalmology clinic
Pre-referral work-up
History
Headache associated with ocular signs and/or symptoms
Most headaches do not need ophthalmic assessment unless there are eye signs.
All referrals should comply with the Standard Referral guidelines and include in particular:
- Duration of headache and description of headache pattern
- Warning sign of facial tenderness over temple and watering eye
- Jaw claudication
- Waking with headache
- Headache associated with nausea
- Neurologic signs or symptoms
- Associated ocular signs and symptoms such as
- Vision reduced or sudden loss of vision
- Amaurosis fugax (transient loss of vision)
- Sudden field loss
- Exophthalmos or orbital mass
- Red eye
- Epiphora
- Diplopia
- Ptosis
- Suspected papilloedema
- Pain on eye movements
- Cranial nerve examination
- Comorbidities
Tests
- Immediate ESR/CRP/FBE in suspected giant cell arteritis and refer as emergency (no need to wait for results)
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Ophthalmology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
Most headaches do not need ophthalmic assessment unless there are eye signs.
For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.
Emergency
Emergency - ring on call Ophthalmic Registrar to discuss.
Painful red eye
Amarosis fugax
Sudden loss of or reduction in vision
Giant cell arteritis or other vascular disease
Sudden onset diplopia
Sudden onset ptosis
Suspected papilloedema or raised intracranial pressure
Sudden field loss associated with ocular signs or symptoms
Suspected herpes simplex or herpes zoster ophthalmicus
Urgent / category 1
Ocular pathology associated with headache
Intracranial lesion requiring fields
Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6777 6405 Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120 Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100 Fax: (03) 6173 0489
Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.
We will endeavour to see these patients within ten days, or sooner if clinically indicated.
We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks
Next available appointment