Acute Eye Problems

If you wake with a red, painful or sticky eye or you have a sudden drop in sight or experience unusual visual symptoms, such as flashes or floaters, or in fact if you develop any acute eye problem for which you might usually consult your GP, you should now visit your Optometrist.

If you have a minor eye trauma or a foreign body in your eye you should also consult your Optometrist rather than Eye Casualty. You may be turned away from casualty unless you have had an Eye Health Examination and been referred in by your Optometrist.

If you are concerned about your eyes never wait until you are actually due an eye examination, as it may then be too late to save your sight. Many eye conditions can be successfully treated only if they are detected in the early stages.

Extended eye health examinations of this nature are directed solely by the presenting symptoms and are free under the NHS even if you are not usually entitled to NHS help.

The tests conducted are dependent upon the nature of the problem and it may sometimes be necessary to use eye drops for a more in-depth examination of the eye.