NHS Urgent Eye Care Service (CUES)
Urgent Eye Appointments at Cacoullis Opticians
If you develop a sudden problem with your eyes, it's important to have it checked as soon as possible.
At Cacoullis Opticians, we provide the NHS Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES), which gives patients access to specialist assessment and treatment for urgent eye problems without necessarily having to visit their GP or a hospital eye department.
Our experienced optometrists can examine your eyes, identify the cause of your symptoms and, in many cases, provide the treatment you need during your visit.
We regularly see patients experiencing:
- Red, sore or painful eyes
- Sudden changes in vision
- Flashes of light or new floaters
- Eye infections and inflammation
- Foreign bodies in the eye, such as metal or other small particles
- Scratched eyes and minor eye injuries
- Other sudden or unexplained eye symptoms
If you're unsure whether your symptoms require an urgent appointment, please contact us. We can discuss what's happening and advise you on the most appropriate next step.
What Makes Our Urgent Eye Clinic Different?
One of the main advantages of attending Cacoullis Opticians is that we have Independent Prescribing (IP) Optometrists who are qualified to assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of eye conditions.
Unlike many optometry practices, we can also prescribe appropriate medications, including NHS prescriptions where covered by the service.
This means that if you attend with an eye infection, inflammation or another condition requiring treatment, we can often manage the problem ourselves rather than having to refer you elsewhere simply to obtain a prescription.
We are also equipped to remove foreign bodies from the eye and carry out certain minor procedures within the practice.
Having these additional clinical skills and facilities allows us to provide a more complete urgent eye care service, with assessment and treatment often available in the same appointment.
Where a condition requires hospital attention, we'll explain our findings and arrange an appropriate referral to the hospital eye service.
What Happens at an Urgent Eye Appointment?
When you contact us, we'll ask a few questions about your symptoms to establish how urgently you need to be seen.
We aim to offer appointments as quickly as possible, often on the same day or the following day, depending on availability and the nature of your symptoms.
During your appointment, one of our optometrists will examine your eyes and carry out any necessary tests to investigate the problem.
We'll explain what we've found, discuss any treatment that's needed and advise you on what to expect as your eye recovers.
If medication is required, our Independent Prescribing Optometrists can prescribe it where appropriate. We can also arrange follow-up appointments if your condition needs to be reviewed.
Do I Need to See My GP First?
In most cases, no. The NHS CUES service allows eligible patients with urgent eye problems to access care directly through an accredited optometry practice.
This can save you an unnecessary GP appointment or trip to A&E, particularly for conditions that can be safely treated within the community.
However, some symptoms require immediate hospital assessment. If we feel your condition needs more specialist attention, we'll make sure you're directed to the appropriate service without unnecessary delay.
Contact Us for Urgent Eye Care
If you're experiencing a sudden change in your eyesight, a painful or red eye, new flashes or floaters, or any other worrying eye symptoms, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Our team will discuss your symptoms and help arrange the most appropriate care.
With experienced optometrists, Independent Prescribing qualifications and the facilities to treat a wide range of urgent eye conditions, we're able to offer more than a standard eye examination when something goes wrong.