Eye Conditions

Oxfordshire Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)

This free NHS service is available to people aged more than six years in Oxfordshire and registered with an Oxfordshire GP.

Minor Eye Conditions Service - Oxfordshire LOC

Conditions treated include:

• dry, gritty, irritable and uncomfortable eyes
• foreign body in the eye
• red eye or eyelids
• ingrowing eyelashes
• watery discharge
• recent and sudden changes in vision.

If you have one of the above or another minor eye condition you can refer yourself for an appointment with an optometrist. Click on the link above and select ‘find a MECS practice’. Please then call one of the opticians on the list and inform them that you are using the minor eye conditions service.

Eye emergencies

If you have an eye emergency (see list below), please do not go to Oxford Eye Hospital straightaway. Instead call the specialised telephone triage number - 01865 234567 then select option 1 followed by option 1.
Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday to Sunday 8.30am to 3.30pm (including Bank Holidays).

You will be able to speak to an ophthalmic health professional who will advise you. If you are advised to attend Eye Casualty, please do not drive yourself - you may need pupil-dilating drops which prevent driving for up to four hours. Bring any spectacles you wear and a list of your prescribed medication.

If you need advice out of hours, please phone NHS 111 or your out of hours GP practice.

If you have an eye trauma, chemical splash or severe eye pain out of hours, please phone NHS 111 first and they will allocate a time for you in the Emergency Department (A&E).

What is an eye emergency?

• Chemical liquids splashed in the eye.
• An injury to the eye in which the eye ball or lids are lacerated or objects enter the eye, such as sharp instruments or metal.
• A suddenly blind and painful eye which causes sickness and general feeling of being unwell.
• After an eye operation, a suddenly painful, red, swollen eye in which the vision has unexpectedly deteriorated.
• Patients following corneal graft surgery in which there is no pain, but for whom vision has rapidly deteriorated.
• Shadows or 'curtaining' in the field of vision which is painless but may be associated with flashing lights or an increase in seeing black specks or blobs (floaters).
• A red and painful eye associated with wearing contact lenses.
• Painful eyes.
• Sudden loss of vision with no other symptoms.