A new Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) will be starting in Tower Hamlets on Wednesday 30th January 2019. MECS is a NHS funded service available to all patients registered with a Tower Hamlets GP or who are a Tower Hamlets resident. The service is designed to offer convenient care for minor medical eye conditions. Examples of eye conditions that can be treated by a MECS are:
- Red eye(s)
- Significant recent discharge from or watering from the eye
- Mild trauma, for example a scratch to the outer surface of the eye(s) or lid(s)
- Suspected foreign body in the eye
- Mild pain and/or discomfort in the eyes
The service is provided by local optometrists who have specialist knowledge and skills to carry out this work. MECS can be accessed by self-referral, GP referral or through signposting from another service. Appointments are offered every day of the week and patients can expect to be seen within 24 hours for urgent issues or 48 hours for routine issues. A list of MECS locations along with contact details are below:
| Area | Practice | Address | MECS Opening Hours | Telephone |
| E2 | Specsavers Bethnal Green | Unit 1, 409 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AN | M,Tu, F,Sat 9-6Weds 10-6, Thu 9-7 Sun 10-5 | 020 7324 7520 |
| E1 | In Focus Optics- Cannon Street Road | 149 Cannon St Road, E1 2LX | Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Thur closed Fri 3-7pm Sat 10-6pm, Sun closed | 020 7488 4523 |
| E1 | In Focus Optics- White Horse Lane | 94 White Horse Lane, E1 4LR | Mon ,Tues 10am-6pm Wed & Sat No MECS Thur & Sun Closed Fri 3 – 7pm | 020 7791 0692 |
| E14 | In Focus Optics- Poplar | Unit 1, 223 East India Dock RoadE14 0ED | Tues, Sat 10 – 6pm Mon,Weds Fri No MECS Thurs, Sun Closed*Can offer some Wednesday appts, please call for availability | 020 7987 2364 |
| E14 | Boots- Canary Wharf | Jubilee Place, 45 Bank St, Canary Wharf, London E14 5NY | M,W,THU 8.30 – 7.30 | 0345 125 3758 |
| E3 | Scrivens Opticians | 531 Roman Road,E3 5EL | Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:30pm Sat 9:00am – 5:00pm | 020 8980 5053 |