People in the Rochdale borough can now benefit from a new minor eye conditions service.

The service, commissioned by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG), sees local opticians providing treatment for eye conditions including red eye or eyelids, dry eye or uncomfortable eyes, irritation and inflammation of the eye, flashes and floaters, in-growing eyelashes or sudden loss of vision.

People with these eye symptoms can make an appointment directly with participating optometrists. This will help free up GPs to see other patients and reduce the demand for urgent hospital appointments.

Major eye conditions such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma will continue to be referred for specialist treatment at the appropriate setting

The Minor Eye Conditions Service covers:

• Red Eye or Eyelids
• Dry eye – gritty and uncomfortable eyes
• Irritation and inflammation of the eye
• Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye
• Recently occurring flashes and floaters
• Painful eye
• Ingrowing eyelashes
• Recent and sudden loss of vision
• Foreign body in the eye