Having Trouble Seeing Your GP For An Eye Problem? We Can Help!

Here at Focus Medical Eye Centre, we have built a reputation as being your local eye care specialists.

All of our NHS services are under great strain. People are experiencing long waits in A&E and trying to see your GP on short notice has never been more difficult. Additionally, if you have an eye problem these settings often lack the specialist equipment needed to assess your eyes properly. Even clinicians with specialist eye training cannot assess you thoroughly. Focus Medical Eye Centre is able to help by providing a local NHS scheme called MECS (Minor Eye Conditions Service). 

The MECS service allows patients with acute eye problems to be seen in our practice and assessed for free*. From this initial examination, patients can then be managed accordingly. A decision will be made on whether the condition can be treated in-house or if onward referral needs to be arranged, for more serious eye conditions. Here is the following list of some common eye conditions that would be covered by MECS:

• Red eye or eyelids
• Dry eye, or gritty and uncomfortable eyes
• Irritation and inflammation of the eye
• Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye
• Recently occurring flashes and floaters. 
• Ingrowing eyelashes
• Recent and sudden loss of vision
• Foreign body in the eye

If you have a major eye condition that is being regularly monitored by your optometrist or hospital eye service, this will not be covered by our minor eye conditions service. For example, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.

*Assessment by our specialists is covered but charges may apply for any necessary scans, products or complex prescribing with management.

Who is this service for?

If you are registered with a local GP you can use this free service. It is for people of all ages – adults and children. Children under 16 years must be accompanied to their appointment by an adult. 

Please note: Not all local GPs are included in this scheme please contact us for further information.

What is Special about Focus Medical Eye Centre?

Focus Medical Eye Centre is a rather unique practice. All of our clinicians are highly trained eye specialists with hospital experience. Both Anthony and Amanda Bahadur are Independent Prescribing Optometrists. This means they can prescribe prescription-only medication like an eye GP and Mr Kashani is a Consultant Ophthalmologist. All of these practitioners can prescribe, treat and manage more complex eye conditions (in-house) in addition to the more simple MECS conditions.  An example would be prescribing and management of recurrent anterior uveitis, which can be treated in-house without the need to refer to a hospital. Charges may apply for treatment of more complex eye conditions requiring specialist prescribing and subsequent follow-ups. 

Mr Kashani also runs a dedicated private Ophthalmology Service once a month for those patients who do not want to attend the hospital or wait extended times for NHS services. An example would be a patient who would like private cataract surgery with a consultant carrying out the procedure and not having to wait in a queue for NHS treatment.

How to book a MECS appointment with Focus Medical Eye Centre?

To make an appointment, please call us on 01323 442062. You will be asked some questions about your symptoms, in order to assess how quickly you need to be seen by the service which will be within 24 hours in urgent cases and within a few days for routine appointments.

Please note: Due to high demand we cannot always guarantee we will have the capacity to see you, especially for short-notice appointments. If we cannot see you, we work closely with other providers and will help signpost you to where you need to get to.

Please take your glasses and a list of your current medication with you to the appointment. The optometrist may put drops in your eyes to enlarge your pupils in order to get a better view of the inside of your eyes.

You should not drive until the effects of these drops have worn off, which may take a few hours. If your condition is more serious, the optometrist will book you an urgent appointment at a hospital eye clinic. If you need a routine appointment with a hospital, the optometrist will organise this for you. You may also be advised to make an appointment with your GP if your eye condition is related to your general health.