title: Managing eye disease in primary care. Part 3. When to refer for ophthalmologic care.
abstract: Most severe eye diseases and injuries ultimately require intervention by an ophthalmologist. The urgency of referral depends on various factors, including level of vision loss, duration of symptoms, and presence of comorbid diseases. Of special importance are five acute eye problems in which emergency management by primary care physicians can be critical to visual outcome: high-velocity injuries, chemical injuries, acute angle-closure glaucoma, arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy, and central retinal artery occlusion.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D004630:Emergencies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology