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Opticians

Did you know that your local opticians can offer you far more than vision checks, glasses and contact lenses? Opticians, also known as optometrists, are your go-to health professionals for eye health and vision care.

They can carry out eye tests, check the health of your eyes, and prescribe glasses or contact lenses. They are trained to assess and manage a wide range of eye issues such as eye pain, sudden changes in vision, flashes, floaters, or injuries.

If you have an eye problem that needs urgent attention, please contact your local optician. They have the expertise and specialist equipment to help you.

Find your local optician

You can search for your local optician by entering your postcode in the box below and clicking the find button.

These are the optician practices that are based within the health board. The opticians are not managed or owned by the health board, but each provides some NHS services

Enter your postcode in the search box below to find your closest optician and information on the services they offer.

 

Do you have urgent eye care needs that won't wait but are NOT 999 emergencies? Please dial 111 or go online to NHS Direct Wales (opens in new tab) for health advice and support. The number is free to call, and this service is available 24/7 and includes our GP-out-of-hours service.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and don’t use BSL or have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone, you can still contact 111. Use Next Generation Text/Text Relay (previously known as Type Talk) by dialling 18001 111.

No referral required

You don’t need to wait to be referred to your local optician. If you are worried about your eyes or vision, you can contact any local optician directly, even if you haven’t visited them before. Most practices are easy to find on your local high street and some may offer walk-in services.

Free urgent eye care

If your optician decides you need an urgent eye examination, this will be free of charge under the Wales General Ophthalmic Service (WGOS). The service is designed to make expert care easier to access, so you can get the help you need closer to home. You can find out more about the WGOS and the services they offer here (opens in new tab).

You can watch the video below to know more about your optician.

Opticians are an important part of our primary care team. You can find out about what other primary care services are available in our area here (opens in new tab) 

You can watch our primary care video series called My Health, My Choice here (opens in new tab). These cover what each service offers and how you can look after yourself in short easy to understand videos

Eye Health Needs Assessment (EHNA) Report

In 2024 the Welsh Government imposed a duty on local health boards to conduct an eye health needs assessment (EHNA). This must be carried out every three years. The report will establish the needs of the public in terms of eye care provision in both primary and secondary care within our health board.

You can view the Hywel Dda University Health Board EHNA report as part of our Board papers here (opens in new tab)

Ophthalmology (eye care)

Our service is for paediatric and adult patients in our area who have sight problems that need treatment. You will need to be referred by a consultant, GP or local optometrist in order to use this service.

You can find details on our hospital-based Ophthalmology services here (opens in a new tab)

 

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