Minor eye condition service

What is the Minor Eye Conditions Service?

The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) provides assessment and treatment for people with recently occurring minor eye problems. It is an NHS service provided by accredited optometrists (also commonly called opticians).
 
MECS can deal with the Minor Eye Conditions only if:

– Patients are aged 5 or over
– Symptoms are present today and less than 3 months
– You have not had an eye test within the last 4 weeks (if Yes you must go back to your own optician)
– You are not under the Royal Eye Infirmary for this issue (if Yes you must contact REI appointments 01752 439 308 or your REI consultant’s secretary)
– It is an eye medical emergency (you must contact REI Urgent Triage 01752 439 330 or go to your local Emergency Department outside of REI opening hours)
 
Medical emergency

Chemical eye injury/burn (after first aid) + reduced vision +/- severe pain

Severe eye injury or high velocity: wounds or bleeding or reduced vision

Recent and sudden loss/change of vision (resolved or not) less than 48 hrs + pain or headache

Recent sudden double vision with or without pain or headache less than 2 weeks

Recent eye surgery less that 2 weeks with significantly sticky discharge or reduced vision or significant pain (scale 1-5) greater than 3 + no better with painkillers/keeping you awake at night.

Severe ocular pain (scale 1-5) greater than 3 + no better with painkillers/keeping you awake at night with reduced vision less than 48hrs

Acutely unwell adult or child with fever, swollen lids or reduced vision
Flashes and/or floaters less than 2 weeks + rapid loss of vision and/or poor visual field loss and/or history of retinal detachment/tear in same or other eye and/or very short-sighted

Foreign bodies Metal or anything penetrating the eye.
 
MECS

Red eye or eyelids with no loss of vision

Dry eye, gritty, pink of itchy and uncomfortable eyes

Mild ocular pain (scale 1 to 5) 1 to 3 + better with painkillers

Irritation and inflammation of the eye

Conjunctivitis for more than 10 days, otherwise a chemist

Foreign body in the eye, (not metal or anything penetrating the eye)

Ingrowing eyelashes

Significant recent sticky discharge, or watering from the eye

Recent flashes or floaters more than 2 weeks but less than 3 months with no loss of vision, no curtain across vision

Recent changes or distortion of vision more than 48 hours with no pain

Lids lumps and bumps, stye but no skin conditions such as eczema

Recent and sudden loss/change in vision (resolved or not) more than 48hrs + pain or headache (must be seen within 24hrs)
 
MECS Free NHS eye health check service in Liskeard (not an eyesight service)

Andrew Kierl
01579 346 694

Thomsons
01579 343 348
 
Patients are reminded that MECS is not a walk-in service and you must call the numbers provided to arrange to be seen.