Refer a Patient

Boling Vision Center welcomes referrals from primary care physicians, optometrists, and specialists across Northern Indiana and the surrounding region, and we are committed to making the referral process as simple, efficient, and well-coordinated as possible for every referring provider.

A Partner You Can Trust

When you refer a patient to Boling Vision Center, you're connecting them with a practice that takes the responsibility of that referral seriously. We communicate promptly with referring providers, manage every patient with the thoroughness and attentiveness that our reputation is built on, and return patients to your care with clear, complete documentation of what was found and what was done.

If you have questions about referring a patient or want to discuss a specific case before submitting a referral, our dedicated referral specialist is available to assist. Contact information is below.

Submit a Referral

Referrals can be submitted through our secure online referral portal or by contacting our referral specialist directly. We accept referrals for the full range of services offered across our four Northern Indiana locations, including cataract surgery, glaucoma management, retinal care, corneal and ocular surface conditions, vision correction, pediatric eye care, and comprehensive medical eye care.

woman smiling | abstract art | binocular eyepieces of a slit lamp

Urgent vs. Routine Referral Options

When submitting a referral, please indicate whether the patient requires urgent or routine scheduling so our team can prioritize appropriately.

Routine Referrals

Routine referrals are appropriate for conditions that require specialist evaluation but do not present an immediate threat to vision or eye health. These include:

Cataract evaluation and surgical consultation
Glaucoma evaluation and management
Diabetic eye exam and retinal monitoring
Dry eye and ocular surface evaluation
Corneal condition evaluation
Vision correction consultation
Pediatric eye care evaluation
General medical eye care

Routine referrals are typically scheduled within a reasonable timeframe based on clinical urgency and appointment availability. Our scheduling team will contact the patient directly to arrange their appointment.

Urgent Referrals

Urgent referrals are appropriate for conditions that require prompt evaluation to prevent significant or irreversible vision loss. These include:

Sudden vision loss or significant visual field change
New or dramatically increased floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow in the visual field
Suspected retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Rapidly progressive corneal infection or ulceration
Significant ocular trauma
Suspected orbital cellulitis or other sight-threatening infection
Acute uveitis or inflammatory flare

For urgent referrals, please call our referral specialist directly rather than submitting through the online portal to ensure immediate attention. Urgent referrals are triaged and scheduled the same day whenever possible.

Instructions for Emergency Referrals

For true ocular emergencies requiring immediate evaluation, please call our office directly during business hours and identify the call as an emergency referral. Our team will arrange for the patient to be seen as quickly as possible, typically the same day.

For after-hours emergencies, please direct the patient to call our main number, which will connect them with our on-call provider for triage and guidance. For situations involving suspected penetrating injury, chemical exposure, or acute vision loss outside of business hours, patients should proceed directly to the nearest emergency room while your office contacts us to arrange urgent follow-up.

When referring an emergency patient, please provide the following information to facilitate rapid triage:

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

Our team will follow up with you promptly regarding the patient's evaluation and management plan.

Dedicated Referral Specialist

Our dedicated referral specialist is your primary point of contact for all referral-related needs, including submitting referrals, checking on appointment status, discussing a case before referral, and coordinating urgent scheduling.

Our referral specialist is available during regular business hours and will respond to all inquiries as promptly as possible. For urgent matters outside of business hours, please call our main number.

What Referring Providers Can Expect

When you refer a patient to Boling Vision Center, you can expect the following from our team:

Prompt scheduling with clear communication to the patient about their appointment
Thorough evaluation by an experienced provider with access to advanced diagnostic technology
Timely written communication of findings and recommendations following the appointment
Ongoing coordination for patients requiring long-term management or surgical care
Respectful, attentive care that reflects well on the referring relationship

We value every referral relationship and work to earn the continued trust of the providers who send us their patients.

Why Refer to Boling Vision Center?

Boling Vision Center is Northern Indiana's most comprehensive ophthalmology practice, offering the full spectrum of ophthalmic care across four locations with an on-site Joint Commission-certified surgery center, advanced diagnostic technology, and a clinical team known throughout the region for taking complex cases seriously.

We are the practice other providers turn to when they need answers, and we treat every referred patient with the same standard of excellence that has defined our practice for over 65 years. Amazing happens here.

Refer a Patient Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly will my patient be seen after I submit a referral?

Routine referrals are typically scheduled within a timeframe appropriate to the clinical urgency and current availability. Urgent referrals submitted by phone are triaged for same-day or next-day scheduling whenever possible. If timing is a concern, call our referral specialist directly, and we will do our best to accommodate.

How will I receive updates on my referred patient?

Following the patient's appointment, our team sends written communication to the referring provider summarizing the findings and any recommended management plan. For urgent cases or complex findings, we will make every effort to communicate by phone on the day of the appointment.

Can I refer a patient for multiple services at once?

Yes. If a patient has multiple eye care needs that fall within different service lines, our scheduling team will coordinate appropriately to address all concerns efficiently, either within a single appointment or across a planned series of visits.

What if I'm unsure whether a referral is appropriate?

Call our referral specialist. We're happy to discuss a case before a referral is submitted and advise on whether and how urgently a specialist evaluation is warranted. Informal clinical consultations with our team are always welcome.