David's Story: Getting Urgent Eye Care Close to Home
David, 47, works as an operator technician in a production environment. He’s experienced, safety‑conscious and had never had any problems with his eyesight.
One Friday at work, David was opening a pipe on a machine when a splash of caustic soda shot back towards his face. Although he was wearing safety glasses, a small drop made its way under the glasses and into his eye. Knowing how dangerous the chemical could be, he followed workplace safety guidance immediately, washing his face and eye thoroughly with diphoterine, a neutralising solution.
Despite doing everything right, David was still worried. His safety training had made him very aware of how serious chemical injuries can be.
The next day, David noticed a small red spot in the corner of his eye. As someone who’d never needed eye care before, visiting an optician felt unfamiliar, but he decided to get it checked. At his first visit, he was prescribed lubricating eye drops and advised to seek further help if his symptoms worsened.
By Monday, his eye had deteriorated significantly, the redness had spread across the whole eye. David became increasingly anxious and feared he might lose the sight in that eye. He even found himself searching online for answers, worrying about whether he’d still be able to drive if that happened.
That’s when David went to see a prescribing optometrist at his local optician in Newport. From the moment he arrived, he felt reassured. He received a thorough eye examination and an in‑depth consultation, with time taken to explain what was happening and what treatment was needed. The optometrist’s expertise and calm reassurance made a huge difference at a time when David was feeling really anxious.
David was prescribed specialist eye drops and booked in for regular follow‑up appointments to closely monitor his recovery. Two months on, his eye is much improved, and he continues to use the drops and attend check‑ups to ensure his vision is protected.
The experience also led to positive changes at work. Full face visors have now been introduced, and a new diphoterine station has been installed right next to David’s work area, giving him added peace of mind.
Reflecting on his experience, David said the care he received was outstanding:
“Having access to that level of treatment and expertise at my local optician was brilliant. They were really knowledgeable, reassuring and thorough.”
David’s story shows how local opticians play a vital role in urgent eye care, offering fast access to specialist assessment, treatment and follow‑up, while keeping care close to home when it matters most.
Urgent eye appointments at local opticians are free on the NHS, and you don’t need to visit the Emergency Department or your GP first. By phoning the optician before attending, you are triaged over the phone to make sure you are seen by the right professional at the right time, helping you get fast, specialist care when needed.
For more information, visit: Optician - Aneurin Bevan University Health Board