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Optometrist examining a patient's eye with a slit lamp at House of Health, in partnership with Cacoullis Opticians
Red, Sore or Painful Eye That Can’t Wait?

Private Urgent Eye Care Clinic in Birmingham: Seen Fast, No Referral Needed

Seen fast by our specialist independent prescribing optometrist from Cacoullis Opticians, with no GP referral and no waiting.

At a Glance

Seen fast

Often within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Referral

Not required. Book directly, with no GP needed.

Prescribing

An independent prescribing optometrist can treat and prescribe on the day.

First appointment

£150 fixed fee. Prescriptions are issued at no extra charge.

Foreign bodies

Removal and follow-up care on site.

Insurance

We Accept The Following Insurance

Bupa
Symptoms

Eye Symptoms We Treat

Our urgent eye care clinic in Birmingham sees a wide range of sudden or worrying eye symptoms, including:

Foreign Body Removal

Something in your eye? We remove it here

Dust, grit, metal and grinding particles are assessed in clinic and removed when it is safe. Metal can leave a rust ring, so care usually takes two visits.

Please do not rub your eye or try to remove anything yourself.

In clinic

First visit£150
Follow-up£95

Red Eye Treatment

We assess red, sore, painful, irritated, or itchy eyes first and provide a clear treatment plan to improve your symptoms.

Eye Infection Treatment

Infection or inflammation, including sticky eyes and discharge. Treatment may include advice, drops, or a prescription, followed by a follow-up.

Swollen Eyelid Treatment

Eyelid lumps, bumps, swelling or pain, and red, dry, itchy or flaky skin around the eye.

Flashes and Floaters

New flashing lights or floaters. We examine the back of the eye with dilating drops, so please do not drive to your appointment.

Blurred Vision and Light Sensitivity

Blurred or reduced vision, or discomfort in bright light. Sudden, complete vision loss needs Eye Casualty instead.

Contact Lens Problems

Pain, redness or irritation linked to your lenses. Stop wearing them now and do not put them back in until you have been assessed.

Scratched Eye

A corneal abrasion from a fingernail, paper or branch. We use Fluorescein dye to reveal any damage so it can be treated properly.

Something in Your Eye

Dust, grit or metal in the eye, or a feeling that something is stuck. We remove it in clinic when it is safe.

Not on the list? You can also book other sudden or concerning eye symptoms, including new symptoms after eye surgery, unless they match the eye casualty warning signs below. Unsure? Call us.

Eye Casualty

When to go to Eye Casualty instead

Some eye problems need hospital emergency eye care, not an urgent clinic appointment. Do not book with us. Go straight to Eye Casualty at Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC).

For a chemical splash, rinse the eye with plenty of clean running water straight away and keep rinsing while you get help. Take the product container with you.

Already booked with us? If your symptoms get significantly worse, or you notice a new shadow, veil or curtain across your vision, do not wait for your appointment. Go to Eye Casualty.

01

Sudden, complete loss of vision in one or both eyes

02

Sudden double vision

03

Sudden distortion or wavy vision, or a new blank or dark patch in your vision

04

A high-speed or high-impact injury where something has, or may have, pierced the eye

05

A significant chemical injury or chemical burn to the eye

Booking

How to Book Private Urgent Eyecare

If your symptoms are urgent but not an Eye Casualty emergency, book online or call. We will confirm a suitable appointment.

Call us

Speak to the clinic. We will take a few details and offer a suitable appointment, often within 48 hours, subject to availability.

+44 7426 737668

Clear fees. You know the cost before you book. A private prescription has no extra service charge.

We can see a red or painful eye, discharge, flashes and floaters, contact-lens problems, a scratched eye, and a foreign body from dust, grit, metal or grinding, where it is safe to remove it. New symptoms after eye surgery can also be assessed here.

A follow-up at £95 is often needed. For an infection or inflammation, that is usually about a week later. After foreign-body removal, usually within a week, including any rust ring. If a steroid eye drop is prescribed, usually within one to two weeks, with an eye-pressure check.

If your symptoms become significantly worse before you are seen, do not wait for your appointment. Go to Eye Casualty at Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC).

Urgent Eye Care

Need Emergency Eye Care? Here’s When We Can Help

House of Health’s eye care clinic, run in partnership with Cacoullis Opticians, is a private service for eye problems that need prompt attention but are not a hospital emergency. You are seen by a qualified Independent Prescribing Optometrist, with no need to wait in eye casualty or A&E, or to see your GP first.

Availability

Often within 48 hours, subject to availability

Referral

Not required. Direct access, no GP needed

First Appointment

£150 fixed fee, tests and prescription included

Treats

Red eye, infections, foreign bodies, flashes & floaters and more

Medication

You only pay the pharmacy for medication

Location

90 Pope Street, Birmingham city centre

In Partnership With

Cacoullis Opticians

Your appointment is with the clinical team from Cacoullis Opticians, a well-established eye clinic specialising in urgent eye care.

House of HealthHouse of Health
Cacoullis Opticians
500+ 5-star Google reviews
Your Appointment

What Happens at Your Appointment

Appointments take place in a private consultation room and use a slit-lamp microscope, Goldmann tonometry, diagnostic dyes, and specialist lenses. Depending on your symptoms, your appointment may include:

1

Your Symptoms and History

Your optometrist asks which eye is affected, when it started, what happened, and about any previous eye problems.

2

Vision and Eye Pressure Checks

We measure how clearly each eye can see and check the pressure inside the eye.

3

Slit-Lamp Examination

A magnified view of the front of the eye. We may use fluorescein dye to highlight scratches or surface damage.

4

Dilated Eye Examination, If Needed

For flashes, floaters, or changes in vision, drops widen your pupils so we can examine the retina. Vision may blur for a few hours, so please do not drive to your appointment.

5

Foreign Body Removal, Where Possible

We remove foreign bodies during the appointment, when it is safe to do so.

6

Your Treatment Plan

You leave with a clear plan: advice, a recommended eye-care product, a private prescription, or a referral with a clinical report if you need specialist care.

Why Choose Us

Why Choose House of Health for Urgent Eye Care

Many people start by searching for an emergency optician when an eye problem flares up. Here, you see an Independent Prescribing Optometrist who can assess, treat and prescribe.

Pricing

Urgent Eye Care Prices: No Hidden Fees

Fixed, published fees, so you know the cost before you book.

AppointmentFeeWhat is included
Initial urgent eye care appointment£150Full assessment and any tests needed (vision, eye pressure, slit lamp, dilated examination), foreign body removal where possible, your treatment plan, a private prescription if required, and a referral or report if needed.
Follow-up appointment£95Often needed after an infection, foreign-body removal or a steroid eye drop. Includes a review of healing, and an eye pressure check or rust ring removal where needed.
Private prescriptionNo extra chargeIssued where clinically appropriate. You pay the pharmacy directly for the medication.

Not included: medication, which you pay the pharmacy for directly, and eye-care products such as lubricating drops, lid wipes or heated eye masks, available on site at retail price.

The Difference

Why Choose House of Health for Urgent Eye Care

Treated Here, Without Referral

Most urgent eye problems can be managed on site, and you do not need a GP referral to book.

Established Eye Care Partners

Delivered with Cacoullis Opticians, a specialist independent, family-run practice with over 500 5* Google Reviews.

Specialist Equipment

A slit lamp, Goldmann tonometer, diagnostic dyes and specialist lenses give a detailed view of the front and back of the eye.

Honest Advice and Referral

If your eye needs hospital or specialist care, your optometrist will advise you and arrange onward referral with a clinical report.

A Clinic Patients Trust

House of Health is a CQC-registered clinic, rated 5.0 from 600+ 5-star reviews.

Central Birmingham Location

Searching for ‘urgent eye care near me’? Find us at 90 Pope Street in the Jewellery Quarter, where we also offer private GP appointments and blood tests.

Testimonials

Feedback from Our Happy Patients

"We experienced high class service at House of Health from the doctors. Thank you for seeing us promptly."

M
MAVerified Patient

"House of Health is really just that! My experience has been nothing short of delightful and I am so happy I have discovered this clinic! The staff are warm and welcoming, the clinic is immaculate and the Dr's are extremely knowledgeable. This for me is a life changing service and I am so grateful."

A
AnonymousVerified Patient

"A seamless experience to date. The clinic is very well presented and a step up from my usual GP clinic. Dr Anita is lovely and really makes you feel heard. The patient coordinator Megan has been extremely helpful and always on hand to answer all of my queries."

L
LPVerified Patient

"Got an appointment for next day really quick. Dr. Sharan Wadhwani was incredibly professional and gave me a really quick diagnosis and weeks of fretting and worrying were over in seconds. The whole team were really polite and welcoming."

S
SSVerified Patient

"Great service! I was able to get an appointment the same day, and the whole process was easy and smooth. Highly recommend!"

A
ARVerified Patient

"From the moment you step into the clinic, the welcoming atmosphere and professionalism of the staff put you at ease. Dr. Raja is incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely cares about your well being."

H
HAVerified Patient

"A wonderful clinic with caring, dedicated doctors. We have never experienced such care before. Efficient and high class."

B
BHVerified Patient

"I was able to book a same-day appointment online, which was incredibly convenient. The GP was absolutely lovely, so knowledgeable, attentive, and reassuring throughout the appointment. I felt truly listened to and cared for."

M
MSVerified Patient

"House of Health is a 5 star service. From booking, being seen by the doctor to medications – everything was a breeze. Thank you to the doctors for providing such a high quality service."

K
KCVerified Patient
Meet Your Team

Meet Your Team

Ameerah Ahmed, Specialist Prescribing Optometrist
Independent Prescribing Optometrist and Clinical Lead

Ameerah Ahmed

Ameerah Ahmed leads the urgent eye care service at House of Health and is a Director of Cacoullis Opticians. She graduated from the University of Bradford in 2015, winning the Bausch and Lomb Contact Lens Prize two years running, and has worked in clinical settings including a private eye hospital in Birmingham. She has also helped train final-year optometry students at Aston University.

As an Independent Prescribing Optometrist, Ameerah can assess, manage and treat a wide range of eye conditions and prescribe medicines where clinically appropriate. She holds postgraduate qualifications in medical retina (Moorfields Eye Hospital) and glaucoma (Aston University).

GOC-registered optometrist Independent Prescriber, DipTP (IP) Specialist in Glaucoma and Medical Retina (Prof Cert Glauc / Prof Cert Med Ret) Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom) Clinical Lead, urgent eye care at House of Health
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Nasir Ahmed, Specialist Prescribing Optometrist
Independent Prescribing Optometrist

Nasir Ahmed

Nasir Ahmed completed his Master’s degree in Optometry at the University of Manchester, graduating with First Class Honours. His clinical experience spans both hospital and specialist settings, including Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, alongside teaching roles at Aston University. He holds postgraduate qualifications in both medical retina and glaucoma, and is a qualified Independent Prescribing Optometrist, enabling him to diagnose and manage complex ocular conditions with a high level of clinical autonomy.

Independent Prescribing Optometrist Medical Retina Glaucoma Clinical Teaching (Aston University) Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Director of Cacoullis Opticians
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Dr Nadir Abbas, Consultant Hepatologist & Gastroenterologist
Consultant Hepatologist & Gastroenterologist

Dr Nadir Abbas

BA Hons MBBS MRCP (Gastro) FEBGH FRCPE And PhD

Director of Private Gut and Liver Services at House of Health

Dr Nadir Abbas is an award-winning NHS consultant and internationally recognised researcher specialising in gut and liver disorders. As Director of Gut & Liver Private Services at House of Health, Birmingham, he leads one of the UK's largest private gut clinics alongside expert Radiologists, dieticians, and hypnotherapists.

He has contributed to British guidelines on liver cirrhosis, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and presents at international conferences, delivering personalised care for complex gastrointestinal and liver conditions.

14+ Years Experience PhD in PBC NHS Consultant Liver Disease Specialist IBS & IBD Expert Research in PBC & Cirrhosis Multidisciplinary Lead International Speaker Advanced Endoscopy
View Full Profile
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

An urgent eye problem needs prompt attention but is not an emergency: for example, a red or painful eye, an infection, a scratch, something in the eye, new flashes or floaters, or contact lens discomfort. Sudden vision loss or a serious injury needs Eye Casualty instead.

No. You can book directly online or by phone. If your optometrist feels you need specialist care, they will arrange an onward referral and provide a clinical report.

Often within 48 hours, subject to availability. When you book, our team will take a few details and offer a suitable appointment. If your symptoms get significantly worse while you wait, go to Eye Casualty.

Your first appointment is a fixed £150, covering your assessment, any tests, foreign body removal where possible and a private prescription if required. Follow-ups cost £95. You pay for medication at the pharmacy, and recommended eye-care products at retail price.

Yes, if you need one. Your optometrist can issue a private prescription for eye drops, ointment or tablets at no extra charge. You pay the pharmacy directly for the medicine.

Yes. We can remove dust, grit, and metal from drilling or grinding in clinic. For first aid, do not rub the eye or try to remove anything yourself. If an object has hit the eye at high speed and may have pierced it, go to Eye Casualty.

Most new flashes and floaters come from age-related changes in the gel inside the eye, but occasionally they signal a retinal tear or detachment, so get them checked promptly. Do not drive to your appointment, as your pupils will be dilated. If a new shadow, curtain or loss of vision appears, go to Eye Casualty straight away.

Yes. Stop wearing them immediately and do not put them back in until you have been assessed. Wear your glasses in the meantime.

For a real eye emergency, go straight to Eye Casualty at BMEC: sudden complete loss of vision, sudden double vision, sudden distortion or a blank patch in your vision, a high-speed penetrating injury or a significant chemical injury. For other urgent symptoms, book with our clinic. Unsure where to go for emergency eye care? Call us.

Please call us before booking for a child. Our team will take a few details and confirm whether an appointment here is suitable.

Ready When You Are

Book Your Urgent Eye Care Appointment

Looking for an urgent eye care appointment in Birmingham? If your symptoms are urgent but not an emergency, please send your details, and we will contact you to confirm your appointment. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7426 737668.

Book Online

Searching for emergency eye care open now? For any Eye Casualty warning sign, go to BMEC Eye Casualty or your nearest A&E. For other urgent eye problems, please send a booking request at any time, and we will contact you during opening hours.

Get Started

Request a Callback

Fill out the form below and our team will get back to you to arrange your consultation.