Emergency Referral Pathways

When a patient presents with an acute eye emergency, Boling Vision Center's team is ready to respond quickly, communicate clearly, and provide the level of care that time-sensitive conditions demand.

A Streamlined Path for Urgent Cases

Eye emergencies require a different kind of coordination than routine referrals, and Boling Vision Center has dedicated pathways in place to ensure that urgent cases are handled with the speed and precision they require. When you call us with an emergency referral, you reach a team that understands the stakes and acts accordingly.

For all emergency referrals during business hours, call our dedicated referral line immediately and identify the call as an emergency. Our team will triage the situation, communicate directly with your office, and arrange for the patient to be seen as quickly as possible.

What Qualifies as an Eye Emergency?

The following conditions warrant emergency referral to Boling Vision Center or, when appropriate, direct transfer to the nearest emergency room.

Refer to Boling Vision Center Immediately

These conditions require same-day evaluation and should be directed to our office by phone during business hours:

Sudden or significant loss of vision in one or both eyes
New onset of flashes of light, a dramatic increase in floaters, or a shadow or curtain in the visual field
Suspected retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage
Acute angle-closure glaucoma presenting with eye pain, headache, nausea, and halos around lights
Rapidly progressive corneal infection, ulceration, or significant corneal trauma
Significant blunt ocular trauma without suspected globe rupture
Acute uveitis or inflammatory flare with significant pain and vision reduction
Eyelid laceration requiring evaluation for repair, particularly near the medial canthus
Preseptal cellulitis requiring evaluation and management

Direct to Emergency Room

These conditions require immediate emergency room evaluation and should not wait for an eye care office appointment:

Suspected open globe or penetrating ocular injury
Chemical exposure to the eye, following immediate irrigation
Significant orbital trauma with suspected fracture or retrobulbar hemorrhage
Orbital cellulitis with proptosis, restricted eye movement, or reduced vision
Any eye emergency accompanied by altered consciousness, significant head trauma, or other systemic emergency

For patients directed to the emergency room, please contact us as well so we can arrange a prompt follow-up evaluation once the patient has been stabilized.

Our Emergency Referral Process

When you call our office with an emergency referral, here is what to expect:

Step 1: Initial Contact

Call our dedicated referral line and identify the call as an emergency referral. Have the following information ready to facilitate rapid triage:

Patient name, date of birth, and contact information
Brief description of the presenting concern and symptom timeline
Any relevant ocular or medical history
Your contact information for same-day communication

Step 2: Triage and Scheduling

Our referral specialist or on-call team member will triage the situation based on the information provided and arrange same-day scheduling whenever clinically indicated. For the most urgent presentations, our clinical team is notified immediately so preparation can begin before the patient arrives.

Step 3: Patient Communication

Our team contacts the patient directly to provide arrival instructions, confirm the appointment time, and advise on any immediate first-aid measures appropriate to their situation, such as irrigation for chemical exposures or protective covering for suspected penetrating injuries.

Step 4: Provider Communication

Following the patient's emergency evaluation, our team communicates findings and the management plan to the referring provider promptly, typically the same day for urgent cases.

Dedicated Referral Specialist Contact Information

Our dedicated referral specialist is your primary point of contact for all emergency and urgent referral coordination. For emergency referrals during business hours, call directly rather than submitting through the online portal.

For general referral inquiries and routine referrals, our online referral portal is available at any time.

man getting his eye checked | child getting her eye checked | abstract art

After-Hours Expectations

Eye emergencies don't follow a schedule, and Boling Vision Center has after-hours pathways in place for situations that arise outside of regular business hours.

For Referring Providers

If you are managing a patient with an acute eye emergency outside of business hours, please direct them to call our main number, which connects to our after-hours answering service and on-call provider. Our on-call provider can triage the situation, guide immediate management, and determine whether the patient needs to proceed to the emergency room or can safely wait for a first-available appointment.

You are also welcome to call our main number directly to discuss the case with the on-call provider and coordinate care.

For Patients You Are Directing to Us After Hours

Please advise patients to:

Call our main number for after-hours triage and guidance
Proceed directly to the nearest emergency room for suspected penetrating injuries, chemical exposures with completed irrigation, or any situation involving severe pain, sudden vision loss, or significant trauma
Not wait until morning if symptoms are rapidly worsening or involve the conditions listed under the direct-to-ER category above

Next-Day Follow-Up

For patients seen at an emergency room after hours for an eye concern, we arrange prompt follow-up evaluation, typically within one to two business days depending on the nature of the condition. Referring providers who want to coordinate next-day follow-up for a patient seen after hours are encouraged to call our office when it opens or leave a message with our after-hours service.

Why Refer Emergency Cases to Boling Vision Center?

Boling Vision Center is equipped to manage the full range of ocular emergencies with the clinical depth, advanced diagnostic technology, and surgical capability that serious eye conditions demand.

Our on-site Joint Commission-certified INSIGHT Surgery Center is available for urgent surgical cases, and our team includes providers experienced in the management of complex trauma, retinal emergencies, corneal disease, and inflammatory conditions.

When your patient's vision is on the line, we are the practice Northern Indiana providers trust to respond with expertise and urgency. Amazing happens here.

Emergency Referral Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to refer an emergency patient?

Call our dedicated referral line directly and identify the call as an emergency. Do not use the online referral portal for emergency cases, as phone contact ensures immediate attention and allows for real-time triage and coordination.

What if I'm not sure whether a case is a true emergency?

Call us and describe what you're seeing. Our team is happy to help you triage the situation and advise on the appropriate urgency and pathway. An informal phone consultation before referring is always welcome, and we would rather field a call about a case that turns out to be routine than have a true emergency delayed.

Can Boling Vision Center handle surgical emergencies?

Yes. Our on-site INSIGHT Surgery Center is available for urgent ophthalmic surgical cases, and our surgical team is experienced in managing conditions including corneal lacerations, retinal detachment, and other emergencies requiring operative intervention. When a surgical emergency is identified, we coordinate the appropriate response without delay.

How will I know my emergency patient has been seen, and what was found?

Our team communicates findings and the management plan to the referring provider the same day for urgent and emergency cases. If you haven't received communication by the end of the business day following an emergency referral, please call our referral specialist directly, and we will provide an update promptly.