What is the Oxfordshire Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)?

The Oxfordshire Minor Eye Conditions' Service provides assessment and treatment for people with recently occurring minor eye conditions.

The service is provided by MECS accredited optometrists (also known as opticians) across Oxfordshire who have specialist knowledge, training and skills.

Minor eye conditions that can be treated by the service include:

• ·         Red eye or eyelids
• ·         Dry, gritty, irritable and uncomfortable eyes
• ·         Significant recent sticky or watery discharge from the eye
• ·         Recently occurring flashes and/or floaters
• ·         Painful eye including pain with bright lights
• ·         Ingrowing eyelashes
• ·         Recent and sudden change in vision
• ·         Foreign body in the eye
• ·         Unusual eye appearance (lumps and bumps)

 Please note this is not an eyesight test.

If you are unsure whether your symptoms can be assessed and treated by the service, please call NHS 111 or contact one of the participating optometry practices who will advise you.

Please note: If you have an eye condition that is being regularly monitored by your optometrist or hospital eye service, this will not be covered by MECS; for example cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.

Minor Eye Conditions Service In Oxfordshire

RED FLAGS & DEFLECTION TO EYE CASUALTY

If you have any of the following, you will be directed to Eye Casualty and NOT offered a MECS appointment:

1. Severe eye pain (Pain that is so bad that it stops you from doing your work)

2. Contact lens patients with red eye, severe pain, getting worse with time and reduced vision

3. Serious eye trauma in the affected eye

4. Eye surgery within past 30 days and current issue is in this eye

5. Painful red eye WITH reduced vision AND/OR light sensitivity

6. Painful eye with vision loss and nausea or vomiting or haloes around lights

7. History of iritis or anterior uveitis and suspicion this is a new episode

8. Painful eye WITH droopy eyelid, double vision and abnormal pupil

9. Sudden, sustained loss of vision

10. Sudden onset double vision

11. Transient loss of vision WITH headaches and soreness of scalp and jaw

12. Swollen eyelid WITH red, painful, bulgy looking eye AND double or blurry vision

13. Flashes and/or floaters WITH veils, curtains, clouds OR reduced central vision

 If you have any of the following you will be directed to your GP for an urgent appointment or eye casualty if your GP is not available:

14. Severe headaches for less than 1 month

15. Swollen lids with fever

If you have any of the following for one week or less:

•  a mild red/pink eye AND itchy, dry or sticky sensation OR

•  swollen eyelid OR

•  red patch on the white of the eye

 you will be asked to visit your local pharamacy where any treatment from the pharmacy will have to be paid for.

If your eye condition does not improve in one week or gets worse you should get in contact to book a MECS examination.

The service is for people registered with an Oxfordshire GP who are aged 6 or over. Children under 16 years must be accompanied at their appointment by an adult.

The service is provided by a number of MECS registered optometrists across  Oxfordshire. A list of participating optometrists can be found on the left hand side of this web page.

You can phone NHS 111 to assess your suitability for MECS.

You can telephone an approved optometrist directly (self-refer) to make an appointment. On contacting the optometry practice, you will be asked some questions about your symptoms in order to assess how quickly you need to be seen.

Appointments are available during normal working hours, Monday to Saturday - excluding Bank Holidays. Not all practices have an optometrist available every day.