Urgent Eye Care Without the A&E Wait: The Black Country CUES Service

If you experience a sudden problem with your eyes, you don’t need to head to a busy hospital or wait days for a GP appointment. The Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) is a free NHS service providing quick, expert assessment and treatment at local opticians across the Black Country.

Whether you’re in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, or Wolverhampton, CUES ensures you get seen by the right person, in the right place, right away.

What is the CUES Service?

CUES is an emergency eye service delivered by specially trained optometrists. Unlike a routine eye test, this service focuses on acute (sudden) eye problems.

• Free for all: Available to adults and children registered with a Black Country GP.

• No GP referral needed: You can contact participating opticians directly.

• Fast Access: Urgent cases are typically assessed within 24 hours.

Conditions and Symptoms Covered

The CUES service is designed to treat “sudden onset” eye issues. You should use this service if you experience:

• Red or painful eyes (including painful eyelids).

• Sudden loss of vision (partial or complete).

• Flashes or floaters (seeing sudden “flashes of light” or new “spots” in your vision).

• Foreign bodies (something stuck in the eye that won’t come out).

• Sudden blurred or distorted vision.

• Double vision (occurring recently).

• Unusual eye discharge (sticky or watery eyes).

• Ingrowing eyelashes (trichiasis).

What is NOT covered?

This service is for urgent issues. It is not a replacement for your regular eye test and does not cover long-term conditions like:

• Cataracts

• Glaucoma

• Diabetic Retinopathy

• Routine sight tests or prescriptions for glasses.

Note: If you are already being monitored by a hospital for a major eye condition, please contact your hospital eye department directly for advice.

How to Access the Black Country CUES Service

The CUES service is not a walk-in service. To ensure you are seen by the right specialist, you must follow these steps:

• Visit https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a-practice/
• Put in your postcode
• A list of local participating practices will appear (in locality to your postcode) along with contact details
• Speak to an Expert: A trained clinician will assess your symptoms over the phone or via video call.

Out of Hours: If you have an urgent eye problem outside of these hours (evenings, Sundays, or Bank Holidays), please call NHS 111.