Minor Eye Conditions Community Service (MECs) is an NHS funded service available to all patients aged 10 or over registered with a Newham GP. Assessment and treatment of recently occurring medical eye conditions is provided by local optometrists with the specialist knowledge and skills to carry out this work.

The service does not replace the routine eye examination, eye tests or prescriptions for spectacles. A sight test is not performed as part of the assessment or treatment, and prescriptions are not offered for spectacles. The service also offers glaucoma repeat measurement and refinement and cataract screening.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusions

Patients presenting the following conditions will be seen by the MECs service:

  • loss of vision including transient loss [consider differential diagnosis (TIA, Temporal Arteritis)]
  • ocular pain
  • systemic disease affecting the eye
  • differential diagnosis of red eye
  • foreign body and emergency contact lens removal (not by the fitting practitioner)
  • dry eye
  • epiphora (watery eye)
  • trichiasis (in growing eyelashes)
  • differential diagnosis of lumps and bumps in the vicinity of the eye
  • recent onset of diplopia [consider stroke; binocular diplopia always significant]
  • flashes/floaters
  • retinal lesions

Exclusions

Patients with the following condition cannot be seen by the MECs service

  • severe ocular pain requiring immediate attention
  • severe infection
  • suspected retinal detachment
  • retinal artery occlusion
  • chemical injuries
  • penetrating trauma
  • orbital cellulitis
  • temporal arteritis
  • ischaemic optic neuropathy
  • binocular double vision

The treatment of long-term chronic conditions is not included within the service:

  • diabetic retinopathy
  • long-standing adult squints
  • long-standing diplopia

MECS Practices in Newham

AreaPractice AddressTelephone
E6Boleyn Eye Centre18 Barking Road, London, E6 3BP020 8552 9077
E6M M Beg 13 Plashet Grove, London, E6 1AD020 8472 8028
E6Specsavers Opticians, Sainsbury's Beckton Sainsbury's, 1 Claps Gate Lane, London, E6 6JF020 8591 5928
E6Specsavers Opticians43 High Street North, East Ham, London, E6 2JD020 8470 0800
E7Creed Optics474 Katherine Road, London, E7 8PD020 8548 1155
E12Lais Opticians622 Romford Road, Manor Park, London, E12 5AQ020 8478 1631
E13Vision Academy 73 Plashet Road, London, E13 0QA020 8586 7132
E15Eye Emporium42 Broadway, London, E15 4QS020 8522 1034
E15Specsavers Opticians85 Stratford Centre, Stratford, London, E15 1XQ020 8221 1113
E16Specstore 32 Barking Road, Canning Town, E16 1EQ020 7476 4745
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