If you are suffering with:

• Red eye
• Sticky eye (difficulty opening your eye or yellow discharge)
• Watery eye (excessive tears)
• Pain or discomfort in or around the eyes
• Recent onset or sudden increase of flashes of light or floating objects in your vision
• Or if you are unsure whether your eye problem requires medical attention

You can refer yourself to a highly trained optometrist based in a local optician’s practice, without seeing a GP, on the NHS.

Appointments are often available within two days, and many of the practices offer appointments at weekends.

• Find your local participating optician
• Learn more about The Minor Eye Conditions Scheme

Please note if you are suffering from significant pain, a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, chemical burns or a penetrating injury then you should go directly to the Eye Casualty department at St Thomas’ Hospital or your nearest A&E.