Minor Eye Care Conditions
MECS is a free service available to all patients over the age of ten registered with a GP within the eligible area, Newham or Barking & Dagenham. The service is designed for the assessment and treatment of recently occurring medical eye conditions. 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 and glaucoma. The service does not replace the routine eye examination and a prescription for spectacles is not issued.
Conditions that can be seen under the service include:
- Red eye or eyelids
- Dry eye, or gritty and uncomfortable eyes
- Irritation and inflammation of the eye
- Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye
- Recently occurring flashes or floaters
- Ingrowing eyelashes
- Foreign body in the eye
Eye Conditions Which Cannot Be Treated By MECS
If you have sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, considerable eye pain or trauma, chemical injury or burns or recent eye surgery you should go directly to an A & E department.
Please call the practice first so we can confirm you meet MECS eligibility criteria prior to booking. We will also carry out some screening questions so that you are booked in with appropriate accredited optometrist.