{"id":514,"date":"2026-02-05T12:50:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/?page_id=514"},"modified":"2026-02-11T15:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:40:12","slug":"eye-problems-emergencies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/eye-problems-emergencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Eye Problems\/Emergencies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-block-key=\"c13bi\">The GP practice is often not the best place to visit in the first instance for an eye problem. There are two other NHS services locally that can provide more expert help for eye problems. For eye emergencies, Sunderland Eye Infirmary provides round the clock access. For non-emergency problems, several local opticians are able to offer quick appointments that are free for all patients. These are different to a routine sight test.<\/p>\n<h2 data-block-key=\"c13bi\">What is an &#8220;Eye Emergency&#8221;?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-block-key=\"664nc\">Chemical liquids splashed in the eye.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"507rs\">An injury to the eye in which the eye ball or lids are lacerated or objects enter the eye, such as sharp instruments or metal.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"4mu44\">A suddenly blind and painful eye which causes sickness and general feeling of being unwell.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"mvq3\">After an eye operation, a suddenly painful, red, swollen eye in which the vision has unexpectedly deteriorated.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"8vrvt\">Patients following corneal graft surgery in which there is no pain, but for whom vision has rapidly deteriorated.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"7gn9\">Shadows or \u2018curtaining\u2019 in the field of vision which is painless but may be associated with flashing lights or an increase in seeing black specks or blobs (floaters).<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"257i3\">A red and painful eye associated with wearing contact lenses.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"8v0ib\">Very painful eyes.<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"98cis\">Sudden loss of vision in one eye with no other symptoms. If both eyes are affected, call 999 as this may be a stroke.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The nearest 24\/7 eye hospital to Durham is: <a class=\"nhsuk-action-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stsft.nhs.uk\/services\/sunderland-eye-infirmary\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"nhsuk-icon nhsuk-icon--arrow-right-circle\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-10 9h11.7l-4-4a1 1 0 0 1 1.5-1.4l5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.4l-5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1-1.5 0 1 1 0 0 1 0-1.4l4-4H2A10 10 0 1 0 12 2z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nhsuk-action-link__text\">Sunderland Eye Infirmary<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is not like a normal accident and emergency department in that you need to phone them first on <a href=\"tel:01915699952\">TEL: 0191 569 9952<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The hospital address is: Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Queen Alexandra Road, Sunderland, SR2 9HP <a class=\"nhsuk-action-link\" href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/tHkQXtPB3JxnsdTMA\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"nhsuk-icon nhsuk-icon--arrow-right-circle\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-10 9h11.7l-4-4a1 1 0 0 1 1.5-1.4l5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.4l-5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1-1.5 0 1 1 0 0 1 0-1.4l4-4H2A10 10 0 1 0 12 2z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nhsuk-action-link__text\">Google Maps<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Alternative Eye Emergency Hospitals:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-block-key=\"8u4b8\"><b>Darlington Memorial Hospital<\/b> \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"tel:01325743472\">TEL: 01325 743472<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"268nd\"><b>Middlesbrough \u2013 James Cook University Hospital<\/b> \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"tel:0164285409\">TEL: 01642 85409<\/a><\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"fjclm\"><b>Newcastle \u2013 Royal Victoria Infirmary<\/b> \u2013 Walk in\u2019s only, 8.15am \u2013 4.30pm Monday-Friday, 9am \u2013 12:30pm Saturday, Closed Sunday &amp; Bank Holidays. <a class=\"nhsuk-action-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk\/services\/eye-department\/the-eye-emergency-department-is-based-in-the-ophthalmology-outpatient-department-at-the-royal-victoria-infirmary\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"nhsuk-icon nhsuk-icon--arrow-right-circle\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-10 9h11.7l-4-4a1 1 0 0 1 1.5-1.4l5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.4l-5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1-1.5 0 1 1 0 0 1 0-1.4l4-4H2A10 10 0 1 0 12 2z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nhsuk-action-link__text\">RVI Website<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What are the minor eye conditions an Optician can deal with?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-block-key=\"dbaoa\">Red eye or eyelids<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"2hehm\">Dry eye, or gritty and uncomfortable eyes<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"8bi5q\">Irritation and inflammation of the eye<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"3ba0h\">Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"6kk5t\">Recently occurring flashes or floaters<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"af849\">Ingrowing eyelashes<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"debb2\">Recent and sudden loss of vision<\/li>\n<li data-block-key=\"58kb8\">Foreign body in the eye<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<a class=\"nhsuk-action-link\" href=\"https:\/\/primaryeyecare.co.uk\/find-a-practice\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"nhsuk-icon nhsuk-icon--arrow-right-circle\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-10 9h11.7l-4-4a1 1 0 0 1 1.5-1.4l5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.4l-5.6 5.7a1 1 0 0 1-1.5 0 1 1 0 0 1 0-1.4l4-4H2A10 10 0 1 0 12 2z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nhsuk-action-link__text\">Find an optician offering the minor eye problems service<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The GP practice is often not the best place to visit in the first instance for an eye problem. There are two other NHS services&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-514","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/514\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/surgerywebtemp.org.uk\/a83011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}