Ophtho consult communication
How to Consult Ophthalmology
What to include when calling Ophthalmology about red eye, vision loss, eye pain, trauma, pressure concern, contact lens complications, or orbital symptoms.
Lead With the Decision
What eye emergency, diagnostic uncertainty, procedure, pressure issue, or follow-up timing question do you need Ophtho to answer?
Not sure whether the consult is appropriate? Start with the Should I Consult Ophtho? triage page, then return here before calling.
Before the call
Have These Details Ready
- Visual acuity for each eye with correction or pinhole if available, and whether baseline vision is known.
- Pain, photophobia, trauma mechanism, contact lens use, chemical exposure, foreign body, flashes/floaters, diplopia, or vision loss timing.
- Pupils, EOMs, visual fields by confrontation, fluorescein findings, anterior chamber appearance, IOP if appropriate, and external/orbital findings.
- Laterality, onset time, progression, immunocompromise, postoperative eye history, glaucoma history, anticoagulation, and relevant imaging.
- What has already been done: irrigation, pH checks, shield, antibiotics, pressure-lowering steps per local protocol, or stroke pathway activation when appropriate.
Exam focus
Document the Specialty-Relevant Exam
- Visual acuity before drops or treatment when feasible.
- Pupils, EOMs, confrontational fields, fluorescein staining, Seidel concern, anterior chamber clarity, and IOP when local protocol says it is appropriate.
- External trauma, proptosis, chemosis, lid injury, orbital signs, and neurologic findings when vision loss or diplopia is involved.
- Contact lens use and chemical exposure details, including irrigation status and pH if relevant.
Phone or secure-chat script
A Cleaner Ophtho Consult Message
I am calling about a [age]-year-old with [red eye/vision loss/pain/trauma] in the [right/left/both] eye(s). Visual acuity is [OD/OS], baseline is [known/unknown]. Key findings are [pupils/EOM/fields/fluorescein/IOP/external exam]. The trigger is [contact lens/chemical/trauma/post-op/glaucoma/orbital/neuro concern]. My question is [emergent exam/procedure/disposition/follow-up timing].
Common pitfalls
Avoid Low-Signal Consults
- Calling without visual acuity unless there is a clear reason it cannot be obtained.
- Measuring IOP when open globe is a concern.
- Treating chemical eye exposure as a phone-call problem before immediate irrigation and local emergency workflow.
Reference links
Useful Background
Educational tools only. SIC provides clinician-facing educational consult-triage references. SIC does not diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate disease and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, local guidelines, institutional referral pathways, or recommendations from the relevant specialty department. See disclaimer and how SIC works.