Minor Eye Conditions Service

What is a Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)?

Conditions that can be seen under the minor eye conditions service include:

• 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 or 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.

Please note, this is not a sight test.

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.

Not all local GP’s are included in this scheme please contact us for further information.

How do I book an appointment with the service?

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 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 inside 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.

What happens if I need a Prescription Only Medicine prescribed?

Focus Medical Eye Centre is a rather unique practice. Both Anthony and Amanda Bahadur are Independent Prescribing Optometrists 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 where this 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.