Which patients with AMD should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further evaluation and potential treatment?

Refer patients with suspected late AMD (wet active) urgently to a macula service, ideally within 1 working day, regardless of visual impairment, to confirm diagnosis and initiate treatment ¹.

Refer people with late AMD (dry) only for certification of sight impairment, low-vision services, or if they develop new visual symptoms suggestive of late AMD (wet active) ¹.

Refer individuals with early AMD if they are at high risk of progression, such as those with large drusen (125 micrometres or more) with pigmentary abnormalities, or reticular drusen with pigmentary abnormalities, but do not routinely refer asymptomatic early AMD cases for further diagnostic tests ¹.

Patients presenting with visual distortion (metamorphopsia) or rapid onset visual loss should be referred urgently, as these may indicate neovascular AMD requiring prompt treatment ¹.