Since the end of July 2024, the Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) has offered an NCL-wide NHS-funded service  to all patients registered with a NCL ICB GP practice, i.e. patients with a Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington GP. 

• MECS is a symptom-based service for patients of any age with a recent onset eye problem, such as sore eyes, red eyes or a visual disturbance.
• MECS is provided by accredited optometrists in local accredited optometry practices/opticians.
• Ask the patient to telephone a MECS-accredited optometry practice of their choice, for triage and an appointment. MECS is not a walk-in service.
• Patients triaged as eligible for the service will be seen within 24 hours if urgent and a few days for a routine appointment.
• Children under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
• Details of accredited practices can be found on the Primary Eyecare Services (PES) website.
• A downloadable MECS patient leaflet is available on the PES website.
• Patients can be signposted to MECS by GPs and GP practice staff.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

• ocular pain
• differential diagnosis of red eye
• foreign body and emergency contact lens removal (not by the fitting practitioner)
• flashes/floaters: recent onset
• loss of vision including transient loss
• patient-reported sudden onset field defects.
• dry eye
• blepharitis
• epiphora
• trichiasis
• differential diagnosis of lumps and bumps in the vicinity of the eye

Exclusions

• patients identified to have severe eye conditions which need hospital attention e.g. orbital cellulitis, temporal arteritis
• eye problems related to herpes zoster
• adult squints, long-standing diplopia
• removal of suture
• patients requiring a sight test
• repeat field tests to aid diagnosis following an eye examination
• suspected cancers of the eye
• dry age-related macular degeneration
• patients with very minor symptoms who may be advised to self-care or pharmacy initially