GP Services Seem Almost Nonexistent

Robin9

You seem to have ruled out contacting your optician - why?

These are the best people to give you a referral. Forget your GP.

sheramber

Contact one of these for advice

Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Service (PEARS)

You can visit one of the PEARS optometrists below.

Dartford

• Jackie Rothery, Crown House, Home Gardens, Dartford
• Linklater Opticians, 22 Lowfield Street, Dartford

Faversham

• Eye Emporium (John High), 8 Market Street, Faversham
• Optima Opticians, Jacob Yard, Preston Street, Faversham

Gravesend

• Boots Opticians, 9 Kempthorne Street, Gravesend
• Boots Opticians, 38 new Road, Gravesend
• Medical Eye Centre, 14 King Street, Gravesend
• Specsavers Opticians, 19-20 Thamesgate Centre, Gravesend

Longfield

• K Rowland Opticians, 79 Station Road, Longfield

Medway

• Leightons Ltd, 67 Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, Gillingham, Kent
• Sanford Opticians, 7 Main Road, Rochester, Kent
• T J Woolley, 60 Watling Street, Gillingham, Kent
• Niall O’Kane Optometrists, 78-80 High Street, Strood, Rochester, Kent

Sittingbourne

• Eye Emporium (John High), 73 High Street, Sittingbourne
• John Frewin Opticians, 114 High Street, Sittingbourne
• Specsavers Opticians, Unit 7/8, The Forum, Sittingbourne

Sheerness

• L Jackson, 3 Southdown Road, Halfway, Sheerness

West Malling

• Kings Hill Opticians, 2 Liberty Square, Kings Hill

Acute Primary Care Ophthalmology Service (APCOS)

If you are registered with a West Kent GP you can visit one of the APCOS Optometrists below:

• Osborne Harle Optometrists, 1-3 Martin Hardie Way, Tonbridge, Kent
• Staplehurst Health Centre, Offens Drive, Staplehurst, Kent
• Kent Eye care Independent Specialist Optometrists and Opticians, 786 London Road, Larkfield, Aylesford, Kent
• Naill O’Kane Optometrists, 78 – 80 High Street, Strood, Rochester, Kent
• Eye 2 Eye Opticians, Unit 8 , Mid Kent Shopping Centre, Castle Road, Allington, Maidstone, Kent

[Deleted User]

Thank you very much Sheramber for taking the time to give all that information.  Very useful. 

Coincidentally, Asda Opticians phoned to tell me my long awaited glasses were ready for collection.  While I was there I spoke to the Optician and he confirmed what you have written (unfortunately I didn't see what you'd written before I left the house as I left just before). My local Specsavers have the ability to assess minor eye injuries.  I went to them, was triaged and now awaiting an appointment.  At long last lol. Much better than going to Sidcup for something that although painful, is almost certainly fairly minor. Its so hard to understand how the NHS works now.  Well it is for me, perhaps I'm odd in that.  But no matter, I know now. I missed minor eye injury units somehow when googling.

Katiehound

While this particular eye condition is relatively minor it can impact hugely on your life- and as I pointed out before , if possible get an appointment in the morning when it will be at it's worst.
 I was working full time when it happened to me and was off sick for many months.
I hope you get an appointment speedily and the problem will be resolved

[Deleted User]

That sounds awful Katie.

So relieved, have an appointment to be assessed tomorrow.  I don't think my problem is as bad as yours, thank goodness but the triage person could see my eye was still red after last night.  Just so glad it will be assessed by the proper place and I don't have to travel into and across London to do it.  I was a little worried they'd laugh me out of the A&E.  When I went to my local A&E they were a bit 'why are you here' in spite of my discomfort and obvious problem.

I just wish Minor Eye Injury Clinics were more known about (referring to them by assorted initial titles probably doesn't help, it seems to be a bit changeable depending on who you are talking to).  I'm going to put my experience on my local area facebook page. Boots are supposed to run an clinic but don't right now. But still two places that do.., one of the remaiing two didn't have any appts at all for two weeks so it must be a very in demand and needed service (and obviously other people found out about it easily enough lolol)..But one of the places I talked to said GP's rarely do realise they exist which is bad.;

Thank you to everyone who helped on here.., apologies I was a bit slow on the uptake.

Nannytone

1 is your GSD 
A guide dog ?

[Deleted User]

No a german shepherd dog.  Very nice natured but lol, huge floppy paws that flopped out when I was grooming him (he was enjoying it lolol).  The claw caught my eye.

Had the assessment today.  I do still have a scratch so it was deep and isn't healed.  I was told to buy some Hycosan drops (bought the extra) and to apply five times a day.  Eye is dry (apparently my rh arthritis doesn't help with that) and with the drops should heal better (as has been described by a couple of people on here already).  If it doesn't I am to go back in two weeks.  Feel a lot better knowing I can go to a local service though.

I have just had to give in and buy a large print keyboard cause I can't see the key's too well anymore.  Even a tough typist needs to see the keys it seems lol.

Katiehound

One thing that may well help you as I said before is Xailin night ointment as it helps to create a barrier between the cornea and eye lid- at night- when the dreadful deed mainly occurs. It is just an ointment- drug free and preservative free.
When I had my eye problem opticians were not able to help, however I  now realise things have moved on because a friend was referred for cataract op by optician rather than GP.

Hope it heals soon. ... and the annoying thing is that only an eye specialist appreciates the problem- and not always then!! Good luck

[Deleted User]

I was told by the optician to buy Hycosan (I bought the extra) .., is this the same sort of thing?  
Not woken with massive pain yet so here's hoping it will continue.  Wish I could see this dratted screen a bit easier (cause of cataracts the lighter font is horrible to see).  Even worse now I have new stronger glasses.  I think I'm reading this site on a wing and a prayer, hoping I'm getting it right lol.

Katiehound

The Hycosan are drops- the Xailin is ointment- so I assume thicker. When a different ointment (Lacrilube) became unavailable- for ever!- I tried various drops and they just didn't work-  for me. The drops might well work for you

The Hycosan also contain 0.2% Hyaluronic Acid. whereas Xailin contains no active ingredients

As Moorfileds hospital said- I was really unlucky!!