Display Patient Information Leaflets

Date issued: May 2025 

For review: May 2027 

Ref: A-387/NM/REI/The minor eye care service MECS v4

PDF: The minor eye care service[pdf] 208KB

The service provides urgent eye assessments for patients complaining of recent minor eye conditions.

What conditions may be seen by MECS?

• Red eye or eyelids with no reduced vision.

• Dry or gritty, or itchy and uncomfortable eyes. 

• Patients should have tried a “DRY EYE” drop (available from most opticians or pharmacies) for a minimum of 2 weeks with no improvement before presenting for MECS appointment.

• Ingrowing eyelashes, if recurrent problem, then referral may be required and not a MECS appointment. Please speak to your own optician for advice BEFORE booking a MECS appointment.

• Mild eye pain (on a scale of 1 - 5): 1 - 3 improving with painkillers.

• Irritation and inflammation of the eye. 

• Superficial Foreign body in the eye.

• Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye.

• Recent flashes or floaters less than 3 months with no loss of vision and/or no obstruction across vision.

• Recent loss or distortion of vision more than 48 hours and less than 3 months with no pain. 

What assessments will the MECS practitioners make?

They will:

1. Take a history of present problem, any past eye and medical history, medications, allergies and family history of eye diseases.

2. Assess the vision and examine the eyes. They may affect the vision for a few hours (up to 6 hours for some people).

Do not drive to the appointment or undertake other hazardous activities whilst vision is still blurred from drops. 

How do I book an appointment with MECS?

Please call to arrange an appointment

Please take your glasses and a list of your current medication with you to the appointment.

Accredited MECS Practitioners

Devon Practices

Practice	Telephone number	Address
Nigel  Gainey Opticians	01752   366022	109 Victoria Road,  Plymouth
Specsavers	01752  253434	152 - 154 Armada Way,  Plymouth
Specsavers	01752  227084	Marsh Mills,  Plymouth
Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr	01752  772116	Crownhill,  Plymouth
Specsavers	01752 402241	The Broadway ,  Plymstock
Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr	01752   345269	62Ridgeway,  Plympton
Newsome Opticians	01752   691107	Glanvilles  Mil l,  lvybridge
Noakes, Habermehl &  Kerr	01752   892185	6  F ore  Street ,  lvybridge
Angus McPhie	01822   612863	7  Market  Street,  Tavistock
Boots Opticians	01822   612076	83 West  Street ,  Tavistock
Specsavers	01822   619910	3 West Street,  Tavistock
For Your Eyes Only	01548   852636	77 Fore  Street,  Kingsbridge

 

East Cornwall Practices

Practice	Telephone number	Address
Noakes, Habermehl &  Kerr	01752   847477	101 Fore  Street,  Saltash
Huxter & Davy	01752   813687	56 Antony Road,  Torpoint
Noakes, Habermehl  & Kerr	01579   382345	49  Fore  Street,  Callington
Specsavers	01566   774354	11 Broad Street,  Launceston
Andrew Keirl	01579   346694	The Parade ,  Liskeard
Thompsons	01579   343348	4a  Pike  Street,  Liskeard
Huxter & Davy	01503   262054	The  Quay,  Looe