How to refer a patient

You can refer a patient in whatever way is most convenient for your office:

• Phone (for making appointments or urgent questions): (205) 637-7123

• Fax (records and optional referral forms): (205) 831-2729

​

If you have a preferred referral form, you are welcome to use it. We are also happy to provide a simple referral form for your office to keep on hand.

 

 

Please include (when available)

• Recent exam notes

• Insurance information and contact details for the patient

• Your assessment and the desired level of urgency​

Urgent and same-day referrals

We do our best to accommodate urgent retinal problems the same day or next business day whenever possible.

Please call the office for time-sensitive conditions such as:

• Suspected or known retinal detachment or retinal tear

• Sudden vision loss or new central scotoma

• New flashes and floaters with concern for PVD/retinal break

• Vitreous hemorrhage

Calling allows us to triage the situation, advise on interim management if needed, and ensure the patient is seen appropriately.

Conditions we manage

Our practice is focused on medical and surgical retina, including but not limited to:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

• Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema

• Retinal vein and artery occlusions

• Retinal tears and detachments

• Epiretinal membrane and macular hole

• Cystoid macular edema

• Myopic degeneration and peripheral retinal pathology

• Selected uveitic and inflammatory conditions with retinal involvement

If you are unsure whether a problem is best handled by a retina specialist, you are always welcome to call and discuss the case.

Approach to co-management

We value long-term relationships with referring doctors and consider ourselves partners in your patients’ care.

• Our practice is limited to retina; we do not provide routine eye exams or primary eye care.

• When the retinal condition is stable, patients are returned to your care for ongoing management, refraction, cataract evaluation, and routine follow-up.

• We make every effort to provide timely consultation notes and updates after visits and procedures so you know the diagnosis, treatment plan, and follow-up schedule.

If you have any questions about a patient we have seen, please feel free to contact us directly.

What your patients can expect

At their first visit, most patients will:

• Have a dilated exam

• Undergo appropriate diagnostic imaging (e.g., OCT, fundus photography)

• Receive a clear explanation of the diagnosis and treatment options

• When indicated, be offered same-day treatment (for example, intravitreal injection)

We recognize that being referred to a retina specialist can be stressful for patients. Our team aims to provide straightforward explanations, realistic expectations, and courteous, efficient care.