Eye health guidance
Common eye conditions, and when to book or get urgent help.
Go to A&E or call 999 now if…
- chemicals have got into your eye. Rinse it with plenty of clean water straight away, then get help
- something has pierced or cut your eye, or you’ve had a serious injury to the eye or head
- you’ve suddenly lost some or all of the sight in one or both eyes
- you have sudden, severe eye pain with redness, blurred vision, feeling sick, or rainbow-coloured rings around lights. The NHS says this can be a sign of acute glaucoma, which is a medical emergency (NHS)
What is Leeds CUES and who can use it?
The NHS Leeds Community Urgent Eye Care Service (CUES) is run by Primary Eyecare Services for the NHS in West Yorkshire. It provides urgent assessment, treatment or referral for sudden-onset eye problems (Primary Eyecare Services).
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Who can use it | Patients registered with a GP in Leeds, including Otley, Guiseley, Yeadon and Horsforth practices |
| What it covers | Sudden problems such as a red or painful eye, something in the eye, sudden changes in vision, and flashes or floaters |
| How to access it | Call 030 333 00 280 first. It is not a walk-in service |
| Appointments | A limited number of appointments each day, Monday to Saturday, on a first-come, first-served basis |
| What it doesn’t cover | Ongoing conditions already monitored by an optician or hospital eye service, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma |
| If you can’t get through | Call NHS 111, who will direct you to another service |
Summarised from the NHS Leeds CUES page (Primary Eyecare Services), checked 28 September 2026. Service details can change, so always check the official page.
If your GP isn’t in Leeds
CUES is only for patients registered with a Leeds GP. That matters around Otley, because nearby towns sit in different council areas. Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Menston, Shipley and Bingley are in the Bradford district. If your GP is outside Leeds, call NHS 111 or use 111 online. They’ll direct you to the right urgent eye service for your area. See the town-by-town table on areas we serve.
CUES, MECS and what Otley Eye Care does
You may see the term MECS (Minor Eye Conditions Service) on other websites. It’s used for similar schemes in other parts of England. For Leeds, Primary Eyecare Services lists the urgent eye service as CUES.
Otley Eye Care is not a CUES or MECS provider. We provide routine eye care: eye tests, glasses, contact lenses and hearing tests. We explain the urgent routes here so you can get to the right place quickly.
Urgent or routine? How to tell
| What you notice | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Chemical in the eye, penetrating injury, sudden loss of vision | A&E or 999 |
| New flashes of light, a sudden shower of floaters, or a shadow or curtain across your vision | Urgent: CUES (Leeds GP) or NHS 111. The NHS says these can be signs of a detached retina (NHS) |
| Red, painful eye, or something stuck in the eye | Urgent: CUES (Leeds GP) or NHS 111 |
| Sticky, itchy pink eyes without pain or vision change | Often conjunctivitis. A pharmacist can advise (NHS) |
| Gradually blurrier vision, or headaches when reading | Routine: book an eye test |
For more on common conditions, see common eye conditions: when to book an eye test.
Questions people ask
Is there a MECS service in Leeds?
For Leeds, Primary Eyecare Services lists the NHS Leeds Community Urgent Eye Care Service (CUES) as the urgent eye service. MECS is a name used for similar schemes elsewhere. Otley Eye Care does not provide either service.
Can I walk in to CUES?
No. CUES is not a walk-in service. Call 030 333 00 280 first. It has a limited number of appointments each day.
Can I email Otley Eye Care about an urgent eye problem?
Please don’t. Our questionnaire and email aren’t monitored for emergencies. Use CUES if you’re registered with a Leeds GP, call NHS 111, or go to A&E for serious injuries or sudden loss of vision.