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Optician

lWales General Ophthalmic Service

High street opticians also known as Optometrists are there for eye health needs in the community, Eye care in Wales has changed making it easier to access eye health services closer to home.

In October 2023 General Ophthalmic Services (GOS [W]) were replaced by Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS). All high street opticians in Wales providing NHS services will provide WGOS 1 & 2 services.

The Wales General Ophthalmic Service consist of a number of different services including:

  • WGOS 1 - An eye examination comprising of a sight test which is free for eligible patients. Check if you are eligible below.
  • WGOS 2 - Includes examinations for urgent eye problems, further investigations/examinations following a WGOS 1 or private sight test and post operative cataract check
  • WGOS 3 – This service aims to help people with visual impairment to remain as independent as possible. Patients who are referred to this service will receive an initial Low Vision Assessment, with a follow up examination each year. The service also allows practitioners to certify people with sight loss if the cause of sight loss is Dry Age Related Macula Degeneration
  • WGOS 4 – This service allows optometrists with higher qualifications to filter and manage, where appropriate, Glaucoma and Retinal conditions that historically would have been referred to the Hospital Eye Service (HES). Patients will be referred to this service by their usual optometrist or discharged into the service from HES. This service also provides monitoring for patients who are at risk of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine retinal toxicity, who are referred by their prescribing physician
  • WGOS 5 - Independent Prescribing Optometry Service (IPOS) - Practitioners with an Independent prescribing qualification are able to manage certain conditions in primary care following a referral from an optometrist or discharge from hospital eye services.
  • WGOS Mobile Services for eligible individuals who are unable to attend an optometry practice unaccompanied.


Urgent Eye Care Services

If you have any concerns at all about your eyes, you should see an Optometrist straightaway. They will tell you if you are eligible for a free eye health examination. This examination is known as an Examination for Urgent Eye Problems and this is available under the Wales General Ophthalmic Service (WGOS).

As part of an examination for an urgent eye problem the Optometrist will carefully examine your eyes to see if anything is wrong. The tests and equipment they use will depend on what you tell them and what they find. An eye examination for an urgent eye problem is more in-depth than, and different to a routine eye examination so it may take longer. If the Optometrist decides you need an examination for an urgent eye problem, it won’t cost you anything.

You can find an Optometrist on most High Streets in Wales. If you have a sight problem, you can go to your existing Optometrist (if you have one), or just phone, or walk into any practice that is convenient for you to get to.

Catherine McNamara, Primary Care Optometrist and Optometric Advisor for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, explains more about the Urgent Eye Care Service in this short video

 

For more information about WGOS and the type of services available go to the Eye Care Wales - NHS Wales website

If you have a problem outside of normal working hours, ring 111 for advice.

Conjunctivitis (bacterial) and dry eye can be treated by pharmacists under the common ailments scheme. See this page for more details or visit your local Pharmacist.