Warning of extra pressure on Lincolnshire and Newark's GPs because of common eye problems
Eye problems should be treated by an optometrist
A new report shows that people across Lincolnshire and Newark are causing 'unnecessary demands' on struggling GPs by going to them for common eye conditions - instead of experts
The Association of Optometrists found that three-quarters of high street opticians had seen a patient in the last six months who had booked a GP appointment first.
They also revealed that over 1 million GP appointments are made in the UK each year for Hay fever-related eye conditions -
Dr Martin Smith is a doctor of optometry and works in a practice in the centre of Lincoln
He spoke to us about the issue.
"Really optometry can treat most things that don't require surgery."
"Eye problems are quite complex and GPs - who are wonderful people and pharmacists likewise - don't have the specific training or equipment to distinguish between common eye conditions often."
"When I started largely what we did was just eye tests and glasses whereas now we're trained to prescribe - we can treat eye conditions and all optometrists are capable of diagnosing and if necessary referring on."
"If the last time you went to an optician was as a child and they told you didn't need glasses and your vision is fine then your inclination is not to go back to the optician because a lot of people still think optical practices is just for getting specs."
"The most common conditions we see is - children with dry eyes and a lot of allergies and those things can be really effectively treated."
"There are more serious eye conditions that we see but they're obviously rarer."