Refer a Patient
Ophthalmologists are specialists in eye diseases and surgery and only see patients with eye disease. You require a referral from a primary care provider (optometrist, family doctor, nurse practitioner, emergency room physician) to see an ophthalmologist.
The Waterloo Regional Eye Program is partnering with the eHealth Centre of Excellence to improve referral pathways using Ocean, an online referral platform. We encourage referring providers to register with Ocean and refer patients through this patient engagement platform. Ocean is an Ontario eServices Program led by the eHealth Centre of Excellence and the eConsult Centre of Excellence.
There are several ways to refer a patient to an ophthalmologist in the Waterloo Region and referring providers not registered with Ocean can still refer a patient by direct communication with the surgeon’s office for non-cataract referrals, or through central intake for patients with cataracts.