Epiphora (watery eyes/blocked tear ducts)
Paediatric

Ophthalmology
HealthPathways

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Useful Management Information

  • Lacrimal sac massage technique taught to parents
  • Monitor watery eye for first 12 months
  • Please consider the following:
    • Is there accompanying photophobia?
    • Any current upper respiratory infection?
  • Clinical urgency is the dominant consideration in the prioritisation of a referral for a child currently in out of home care (OOHC), or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Children with watery eyes (epiphora) from birth with accompanying photophobia and one or both eyes are enlarged (horizontal corneal diameter >12.0mm)
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • No category 2 criteria
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Children with epiphora from birth non resolved after 12 months with no other features
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Essential Referral Information

  • Any reduced vision?
  • Any cloudy cornea?
  • Any lids swelling?
  • Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate)

Additional Referral Information

  • No additional referral information
Last updated 13 November 2023

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Ophthalmology (E-Blueslips)
Ophthalmology Paediatrics (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Fraser Imrie
Medical Director Ophthalmology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Child Safety

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