Minor Eye Conditions Community Service (MECs) is an NHS funded service available to all patients aged 10 or over registered with a Waltham Forest 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