Minor Eye Conditions Community Service

NCL Wide

This page provides basic information about a service suitable for self referral. Direct patients to the service provider using the details below.

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.
  • 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

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Review date: Tuesday, 02 December 2025