Urgent eye care
Where to go for a sudden eye problem: CUES, NHS 111 or A&E.
Common eye conditions at a glance
| Condition | What it is | Typical signs | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glaucoma | Damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain | Often none at first. Acute glaucoma causes sudden severe pain | Regular eye tests. Sudden severe pain means A&E |
| Cataracts | Clouding of the lens inside the eye, usually with age | Blurry or misty vision, glare, colours looking faded | Book an eye test |
| Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) | A condition affecting central vision, usually from the 50s onwards | Blurred or distorted central vision, straight lines looking wavy | Sudden changes need an urgent appointment |
| Conjunctivitis (pink eye) | Inflammation of the thin layer covering the white of the eye | Red or pink, itchy, gritty or sticky eyes | Often clears by itself. A pharmacist can advise |
| Dry eyes | The eyes not making enough tears, or tears drying too quickly | Gritty, burning, itchy or watery eyes | A pharmacist can advise. Book an eye test if it persists |
| Red eye | Redness from many causes, often minor | Red eye, with or without pain | Urgent if painful or your vision is affected |
| Floaters and flashes | Specks or flashes in your vision, usually harmless | Dots or lines drifting across vision; flashes of light | Sudden new ones, or a shadow across vision, are urgent |
Summarised from NHS.uk condition pages, checked 28 September 2026: glaucoma, cataracts, AMD, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, red eye, floaters and flashes.
Glaucoma: why routine eye tests matter
Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It mainly affects adults over 50. The NHS says most people have no early symptoms and glaucoma is usually found during a routine eye test. Left untreated, it can lead to sight loss (NHS: glaucoma).
If you’re 40 or over and a parent, brother, sister or child has glaucoma, you’re entitled to a free NHS eye test. Your optometrist may suggest more frequent checks.
Cataracts
Cataracts happen when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, making vision blurry or misty. They’re common as people get older. An eye test can find cataracts and track how they change. If they start to affect daily life, your optometrist can refer you for assessment. The main treatment is surgery to replace the cloudy lens (NHS: cataracts).
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
AMD affects the middle part of your vision, which you use for reading and recognising faces. It usually affects people in their 50s and 60s. It can develop slowly, but some forms change quickly. The NHS advises getting seen urgently if your central vision suddenly becomes blurred or distorted (NHS: AMD).
Conjunctivitis (pink eye), dry eyes and red eye
Conjunctivitis makes eyes red or pink, itchy and sometimes sticky. It often gets better on its own within a couple of weeks, and a pharmacist can advise on treatment (NHS). If you wear contact lenses, take them out until your eyes have recovered.
Dry eyes feel gritty, burning or itchy. A pharmacist can suggest eye drops. If symptoms don’t improve, book an eye test (NHS).
Red eye is often minor, but get urgent advice if your eye is painful, you’re sensitive to light, your vision is affected, or it follows an injury (NHS). See urgent eye care.
Floaters and flashes
Floaters are small dots or lines that drift across your vision. They’re common and usually harmless. The NHS advises getting urgent help if you suddenly notice new floaters or flashes, or a dark shadow or curtain across your vision, because these can be signs of a detached retina (NHS).
Headaches and eye tests
If you get headaches when reading, using screens or driving, an eye test can check whether an uncorrected or out-of-date prescription is a factor. Headaches have many causes, and an eye test covers only the eye-related ones. A sudden, severe headache with eye pain, vision changes or feeling sick is not a routine matter. Get urgent medical help.
Questions people ask
Can an eye test detect glaucoma?
Yes. The NHS says glaucoma usually has no early symptoms and is often found during a routine eye test (NHS). That’s one reason to have an eye test every 2 years even if you see well.
Should I see an optician or a pharmacist for conjunctivitis?
A pharmacist can usually advise on conjunctivitis. Get urgent help instead if your eye is painful, you’re sensitive to light, your vision changes, or your eye is very red.