What is a emergency eye care?
Emergency eye care — sometimes called urgent eye care or MECS (Minor Eye Conditions Service) — provides same-day or next-day assessment for sudden or worrying eye symptoms that need prompt attention but may not require a trip to A&E. Many optician practices across the UK are now accredited to provide emergency and urgent eye care, often funded by the NHS through local commissioning arrangements.
Common reasons to seek emergency eye care include sudden loss of vision, flashes of light or a sudden increase in floaters, a red or painful eye, something stuck in your eye, a chemical splash, sudden double vision, or a recent eye injury. These symptoms can indicate serious conditions such as retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, uveitis, or corneal ulcers — all of which require prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent permanent damage to your sight.
If you experience a sudden eye problem, calling your local optician should be your first step — many can see you the same day and have the specialist equipment needed to examine your eyes thoroughly. This is often faster and more appropriate than attending A&E, where you may face long waits and staff may not have access to optometric equipment. If your optician identifies a condition that needs hospital treatment, they can refer you directly to the hospital eye service as an urgent case, often bypassing the usual waiting times.
Who needs a emergency eye care?
- Anyone experiencing sudden vision loss or a noticeable change in vision
- People seeing new flashes of light or a sudden shower of floaters
- Anyone with a red, painful, or swollen eye
- People who have sustained an eye injury or have something stuck in their eye
- Anyone who has had a chemical splash in their eye
- People experiencing sudden double vision
- Those with a painful, watery eye that is sensitive to light
What to expect during a emergency eye care
- 1A prompt triage call or assessment when you contact your optician
- 2Detailed questioning about your symptoms, when they started, and any relevant history
- 3A thorough examination using slit lamp, ophthalmoscope, and other specialist instruments
- 4Your optometrist may apply drops to dilate your pupils or numb your eye depending on the condition
- 5Diagnosis and treatment on the spot where possible (e.g. removal of a foreign body, prescription of eye drops)
- 6Urgent referral to a hospital eye clinic if specialist treatment is required
How much does it cost?
Free through NHS-funded MECS/urgent eye care schemes in many areas. Private emergency appointments typically £30–£60
How often should you have this test?
As needed — seek help immediately when urgent eye symptoms arise