How to Get an Ophthalmology Referral in BC — A Step-by-Step Patient Guide

In British Columbia, ophthalmologists are specialist physicians operating within the provincial MSP referral system. Unlike a walk-in clinic or optometry practice, you cannot simply book an appointment directly with an ophthalmologist under MSP — a referral from a primary care provider is required. This guide explains exactly how to navigate that process, what to say at your appointment, and what to expect once your referral is sent.

Why a Referral Is Required

BC's health system uses a gated specialist model: family physicians (GPs) and optometrists serve as primary assessors who identify when specialist expertise is needed and formally refer patients to the appropriate specialist. This approach helps ensure that specialist resources are directed to patients who need them most, and that specialists receive relevant clinical context before seeing a patient.

For ophthalmology in particular, the referral pathway works well: GPs and optometrists are well positioned to identify visually significant cataracts, elevated intraocular pressure, macular changes, and other conditions that warrant specialist assessment. You do not need to self-diagnose — you just need to describe your symptoms accurately and ask for an eye specialist referral if one seems appropriate.

Who Can Refer You

Two types of primary care providers can send a referral to Dr. Sundaram under BC MSP:

• Family physician (GP) or general practitioner: Your family doctor can assess your eye complaint, perform basic visual acuity and external eye exam, and send a referral based on their findings and your reported symptoms.
• Optometrist (O.D.): Optometrists in BC are licensed to assess eye health, measure intraocular pressure, dilate the eye, and examine the retina and optic nerve. They are fully authorised referral sources for ophthalmology — and in many cases are better positioned than GPs to identify specific ocular conditions requiring specialist care. Do not hesitate to ask your optometrist to refer you directly.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Referral

Step 1 — Notice and Describe Your Symptoms

Eye symptoms that may indicate a need for ophthalmology assessment include:

• Blurry, foggy, or hazy vision that glasses no longer fully correct
• Difficulty driving at night, increased headlight glare, or halos around lights
• Gradual fading or yellowing of colours
• Frequent changes to your glasses prescription without lasting improvement
• New floaters or flashes of light (especially if sudden onset — see urgent section below)
• Gradual peripheral vision loss
• Eye pain, redness, or persistent discomfort
• Eyelid drooping that interferes with your vision

Step 2 — Book an Appointment with Your GP or Optometrist

Contact your family doctor's office or an optometrist and book an appointment specifically about your eye concern. At the appointment, describe your symptoms as specifically as possible. Useful phrases include:

• "My vision has been getting progressively blurrier over the past year, and my glasses prescription doesn't seem to fully fix it."
• "I'm having significant difficulty with glare and night driving."
• "My optometrist mentioned elevated eye pressure at my last visit and I haven't followed up."
• "I have diabetes and I've never had a dilated retinal exam."

Step 3 — Ask for a Referral to Dr. Sundaram

If your GP or optometrist confirms a condition that warrants specialist assessment, ask them to send a referral to Dr. Aish Sundaram at Precision Eye Surgery. Referrals can be sent by:

• Fax: (604) 426-2721
• Ocean Health eReferral platform — the preferred electronic referral system for BC specialists

A complete referral should include your name and contact information, your visual acuity, a brief description of the presenting concern, current medications (especially blood thinners if surgery is being considered), and any relevant investigation results (existing OCT images, visual field tests, or recent intraocular pressure readings).

Step 4 — Our Office Contacts You

Once a referral is received at Precision Eye Surgery, our team will contact you by phone to schedule your consultation. Wait times depend on the clinical urgency indicated in the referral. Patients with more urgent symptoms are triaged to be seen sooner.

Step 5 — Prepare for Your Appointment

When you attend your consultation with Dr. Sundaram, bring:

• Your BC Services Card (MSP)
• A list of all current medications (including eye drops)
• Your current glasses or contact lens prescription
• Any previous eye examination records, imaging reports (OCT, visual fields), or specialist letters
• A list of any questions you want to ask

You may have your eyes dilated at your first visit, which temporarily blurs your near vision and increases light sensitivity for a few hours. Plan for this: arrange a driver or allow time before driving, and consider bringing sunglasses.

Urgency Levels

Not all referrals are equal in urgency. Understanding how ophthalmology referrals are triaged may help you communicate more effectively with your referring provider:

• Urgent (days to 1–2 weeks): Sudden vision loss, new onset of many floaters combined with flashes, suspected retinal detachment, acute angle closure glaucoma, eye injuries, or rapidly progressive conditions.
• Semi-urgent (weeks to 1–2 months): Rapidly progressing cataract, worsening uncontrolled intraocular pressure, significant macular changes, unexplained visual field loss.
• Routine (months, as appropriate): Stable cataracts, routine glaucoma follow-up, stable diabetic eye exams, eyelid assessment for blepharoplasty.

If You Do Not Have a Family Doctor

Not having a GP should not prevent you from accessing ophthalmology care in BC. Your options include:

• An optometrist: Visit any optometrist's office — most accept new patients and can perform a comprehensive eye assessment and send a specialist referral if warranted.
• Community Health Centres: Chilliwack and the broader Fraser Valley have Community Health Centre locations that provide primary care including specialist referrals for unattached patients.
• Nurse practitioners: NPs in BC can assess and refer to specialist physicians under MSP.
• Walk-in clinics: For a non-urgent eye concern, a walk-in clinic physician can initiate a specialist referral.