Orbital Pain

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

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply with the Standard Referral guidelines and include in particular:

  • Duration of symptoms: exophthalmos / enophthalmos, diplopia
  • Clear description of signs
  • Inspection of eye for foreign body including under lids
  • Exophthalmos: Duration, pain, redness, reduction or loss of vision, diplopia
  • Prosthesis: Duration of current prosthesis. History of poor fit and/or discharge
  • History thyroid disease, cancer, trauma, foreign body

Tests

  • Optometrist or ophthalmologist assessment when available

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Ophthalmology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Emergency

Emergency - ring on call Ophthalmic Registrar to discuss.

Preseptal and orbital cellulitis

Acute onset exophthalmos

Exophthalmos with acutely reduced vision, pain or redness

Acute orbital compartment symptom requires emergency lateral cantholysis – refer supected cases in a time critical manor

Urgent / category 1

Exophthalmos with ocular discomfort or mildly reduced vision

Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

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:

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.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine:

Next available appointment