Cataract Surgery Pre‑Referral Checklist

This checklist is intended for referrers to consider key patient information before a cataract surgery consultation.

 

Criteria for cataract surgery and funding through health funds and medicare in Australia.

☐ Is there a cataract?  (If in doubt we can use the Pentacam lens grading system)

☐ Does the patient have symptoms of reduced vision AND

☐ Does the patient want to see better

☐ Is the best corrected vision below 6/6 OR…

☐ Is the contrast sensitivity reduced? AND

 

Planning

☐ Does the patient get binocular diplopia without glasses?

☐ Are there prisms in the glasses?

☐  Is there a history of squint surgery?

☐ Does the patient have stereopsis?  

 

Refraction

☐ Refraction history (including changes over time).

☐ Can the patient read without glasses now?  

☐ Could the patient read without glasses before they developed cataract?

 

Refractive outcome

☐ Has the patient had a contact lens trial of monovision and/or multifocal contact lenses?

☐ Do they prefer to be focussed for reading without glasses, or driving without glasses?

☐ Do they want to continue to read without glasses?

☐ Do they understand what staying short sighted means?

 

Which eye first?

☐ Which is their dominant eye?

☐ Is there history of a weaker eye?

 

Lens choice

☐ What is their desire for glasses or spectacle independence after cataract surgery?

☐ Do they do much activity at night, such as driving?

☐ What is their occupation?

☐ Do they need good vision in dim light conditions?

☐ What lens type do they think they want? (Single focus, multifocal, or EDOF).

☐ Have they read the website information?   www.huntereyesurgeons.com/cataract-surgery

 

Location and timing of cataract surgery

☐ Do they have private health insurance?  

☐ Have they checked that their insurance covers item 42702 in Australia?

☐ If they are not covered, do they wish to have surgery soon through the private system, or wait for the public system?