Got a sudden eye problem? Red, painful, or irritated eyes? Noticed flashing lights or floaters? You don’t need to wait for a GP appointment or sit in A&E. Through the PEARS scheme, we can see you quickly right here in Halifax and provide urgent care.
PEARS (primary eyecare acute referral scheme) is an NHS-funded community service that allows you to refer yourself directly to us for assessment and treatment of sudden or recent-onset eye problems. Prompt, professional eye care when you need it most.
The scheme is designed to take pressure off GPs and hospital A&E departments while making sure patients get expert eye care quickly from specially trained optometrists.
PEARS is for new or acute eye problems. Here’s when you should contact us:
These symptoms can indicate conditions ranging from minor infections to more serious issues that need immediate attention.
While PEARS covers many urgent eye problems, some situations need hospital emergency care. Go straight to A&E if you have:
Getting help through PEARS is straightforward. Just call us, and we’ll triage your symptoms to assess the urgency. We aim to see patients within 48 hours – often sooner – and appointments are generally available daily.
During your PEARS appointment, we’ll take a full history of your symptoms and review your medical background. Then we’ll perform a detailed eye examination, which may include retinal scanning if necessary. We’ll treat minor conditions immediately, prescribe medication if needed, or refer you directly to hospital eye services for more serious issues.
What makes this service so valuable is the speed and directness of referrals. If we need to send you to the hospital, we can forward scans and referral information online, ensuring you’re seen quickly and the specialists have all the information they need.
We’re a trusted, established practice in Halifax with decades of experience and our patients value the professionalism and continuity of care we provide. You don’t have to be registered with us to get a PEARS appointment, we can see new patients too.
Appointments are generally available daily, and we’re committed to seeing you within 48 hours. If we can’t see you in that timeframe, we’ll redirect you to an alternative provider so you’re not left waiting.
This is an NHS-funded service, which means there’s no cost to you.
If you’re not sure whether your eye problem is serious enough for PEARS, call anyway. We’ll discuss your symptoms and advise on the best course of action. We’d rather you contact us and get peace of mind than ignore a problem.
Eye problems can deteriorate quickly. If you’re experiencing any sudden eye symptoms, contact us immediately to book a PEARS appointment and get the expert care you need.