Local Support

Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS

A new NHS service providing free assessment and treatment for minor eye conditions through your local optometrist

About The Service

MECS is a free service available to all patients registered with a City and Hackney GP. The service is designed for the assessment and treatment of recently occurring medical eye conditions.

The service is provided by local optometrists with the specialist knowledge and skills to carry out this work.

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, eye tests or prescriptions for spectacles and a sight test will not be performed as part of the assessment or treatment and you will not be issued with a prescription for spectacles.

Eye Conditions Which Can Be Treated By MECS

The service is designed for recently occurring medical eye conditions such as:

  • Red eye(s)
  • Significant recent discharge from or watering from theeye
  • Mild trauma, for example a scratchto the outer surface of the eye(s) or lid(s)
  • Suspected foreign body in the eye
  • Mild pain and/or discomfort in the eyes

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

How Do I Access MECS? 

You can be referred by your GP practice. You can also contact an approved optometrist directly (self-refer) and make an appointment. Ask to be seen under the minor eye condition service. Appointments are available during normal working hours and you will be seen within 48 hours but usually on the same day.

You are free to contact any of the approved optometrists. However, only approved optometrists can provide this service on the NHS so it may not be your normal optometrist.

Where Can I Be Seen?

List of all participating Optometrists in City and Hackney:

Specsavers: Dalston Cross

Unit 18, Dalston 
Cross Shopping Centre
E8 2LX

  • 020 7254 7664

Specsavers : London Wall

150-151 Salisbury House Shops
London Wall
EC2M 5QD

  • 020 7330 1130

Rose Opticians

27 Lower Clapton Road
London
E5 0NS

  • 020 8985 1971

 Stoke Newington Eyecare

163 Stoke Newington Road
London
N16 8BP

  • 020 7254 4299

iLife Opticians

62a Stamford Hill
London
N16 6XS 

  • 020 8442 9993