If you wake up with a red, sore, or painful eye, your first instinct might be to contact your GP surgery. However, the best first point of contact is actually your optician.
Opticians are eye-care specialists with the expertise and specialist equipment needed to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of eye conditions. In fact, if you contact your GP with an eye-related concern, you’ll usually be referred onto an optician, as they are best placed to help.
At Gower Opticians, our optician Laura has completed additional qualifications that allow her to prescribe medication for certain eye conditions. This means many problems can be treated without the need to attend eye casualty, helping to reduce hospital waiting times while keeping care local and convenient.
So, if you wake up with an eye problem, contact your registered optician or a local optician. They can assess your symptoms, provide advice, and arrange the most appropriate appointment for you. To learn more, visit: www.gov.wales/HelpUsHelpYou