What is a Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)?
The MEC service treats non-emergency conditions which do not necessarily need specialist hospital examinations, in convenient locations for the patient, and is carried out by specially trained Optometrists. You may contact the participating Optometry Practice of your choice and they will offer you their earliest MEC appointment, which will be within a week of you contacting them or they will direct you to another participating Practice.
Conditions that can be seen under within the service include:
• Acute* Red Eyes
• Acute* Irritated or Inflamed Eyes
• Sticky Discharge or Acute* Watery Eyes
• In-growing Eyelashes
• Foreign bodies in the Eye – urgent conditions will be redirected to A&E if treatment is required in under 24 hours
• Recently occurring flashes or floaters.
*An acute condition is one with a sudden onset. If you have had the condition for many weeks and months it is called a chronic condition and you should discuss this with your regular Optometrist or GP, in the first instance.
Please note this is NOT a standard sight test.
Children under 16 years of age will not be seen in the MEC service and should be seen by your GP.
Please visit Primary Eyecare website to find out more information and to find a service near you.
