Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)

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Some eye conditions are safe to be assessed and treated in the community by accredited optometrists. The minor eye condition service has been commissioned by City and Hackney and Islington CCGs as an alternative to attendances at A&E.


Eligibility criteria

Inclusions

  • Some types of red eyes
  • Irritated or inflamed eyes
  • Sticky discharge or watery eyes
  • Ingrown eyelashes
  • Foreign bodies in the eye
  • Some types of flashes and floaters

 

Exclusions

  • severe ocular pain
  • suspected retinal detachment
  • retinal artery occlusion
  • chemical injuries
  • penetrating trauma
  • orbital cellulits
  • sudden loss/dramatic reduction in vision
  • double-vision – Refer to A&E
  • Suspected stroke/TIA
  • temporal arteritis

How to refer

The following clinicians can refer to this service: GPs

Editable PDF / Word document Download Form

Referral methods: Email

Self-referral

Patients can self-refer to the service. We advise sharing the leaflet with the patient and explaining what types of conditions can be seen to ensure the self-referral is appropriate. Cataract Refinement and Glaucoma Repeat Measures require a GP referral.