Dry Eye Treatment in Treherbert | NHS Pharmacy Advice

If you are looking for dry eye treatment in Treherbert, the safest first step is usually an eye examination with a Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) registered optometrist.

Dry eye disease can cause gritty, burning, sore, watery or intermittently blurred eyes, but similar symptoms can have other causes. Treherbert Pharmacy can provide advice and check for warning signs. Under the NHS Wales Common Ailments Service, interim treatment may be considered only in exceptional circumstances when an adult cannot access a WGOS optometrist promptly because of distance or travel difficulties.

Children under 18 and contact lens wearers should be assessed by an optometrist. No GP referral is needed for either route. Where the exceptional pharmacy pathway is suitable, the NHS consultation and any treatment supplied are free.

Only use the pharmacy booking route if you cannot access a WGOS optometrist promptly because of distance or travel difficulties, or an eye-care professional has advised you to speak to a pharmacist.

Choose an NHS appointment if you would like help with this condition. The pharmacist will assess whether treatment is suitable or whether you need another service.

What is dry eye disease?

Dry eye disease happens when the tears do not keep the front surface of the eye adequately lubricated. This may be because too few tears are produced, the tears evaporate too quickly or the tear film is of poor quality.

It usually affects both eyes, although one eye may feel worse than the other. Symptoms can be affected by age, medicines, eyelid problems, blepharitis, contact lenses, prolonged screen use, eye surgery, dry or windy environments and some underlying health conditions.

Symptoms people often notice

• Gritty, burning or stinging eyes: the eyes may feel as though something is in them.
• Soreness, itching or redness: discomfort may become more noticeable later in the day or in dry environments.
• Watery eyes: irritation can trigger excess watering even though the eye surface is dry.
• Temporary blurred vision: vision may fluctuate, particularly during reading or screen use.
• Eye fatigue: reading, driving, bright light or prolonged screen use may become uncomfortable.
• Contact lens discomfort: lenses may feel dry, irritating or difficult to wear.

Can Treherbert Pharmacy help with dry eye treatment?

A WGOS registered optometrist is the recommended first service for suspected dry eye because an eye examination can identify other eye conditions and possible underlying causes. Pharmacy treatment through the Common Ailments Service is an interim option rather than the routine first route.

You do not need a GP referral to contact a WGOS optometrist or Treherbert Pharmacy. The pharmacist will explain clearly if an optometrist, NHS 111 Wales, emergency eye service or another healthcare professional is the safer route.

What happens during a pharmacy consultation?

The pharmacy consultation is designed to check whether the exceptional CAS pathway is safe and suitable. It does not replace a full eye examination.

1. 1
   Private symptom discussion. The pharmacist will ask what you are experiencing, when it started and whether one or both eyes are affected.
2. 2
   Urgent warning-sign check. Pain, marked redness, light sensitivity, vision change, discharge, injury, surgery and contact lens use will be considered.
3. 3
   Clinical suitability review. Your age, medical history, medicines, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding status and previous eye treatments will be checked.
4. 4
   Advice or interim treatment. Self-care advice and a suitable tear-replacement or lubricating treatment may be considered where the CAS criteria are met.
5. 5
   Optometrist follow-up. You will be advised to arrange an eye examination and told when urgent or routine review is needed.

What information may the pharmacist ask about?

• When the symptoms started, whether they are constant or intermittent, and whether one or both eyes are affected.
• Any eye pain, marked redness, headache, light sensitivity, double vision or change in sight.
• Whether you wear contact lenses or have recently had eye surgery, an eye procedure, injury or possible foreign body.
• Whether there is discharge, swelling around the eye, painful eye movement, flashing lights or wavy lines.
• Current medicines, including eye drops, antihistamines, antidepressants, blood-pressure medicines and treatments that may worsen dryness.
• Medical conditions such as blepharitis, rosacea, autoimmune disease or previous eye problems.
• Which lubricating drops, gels, ointments or self-care measures have already been tried and for how long.

Why an optometrist is usually the right first service

Dry eye symptoms can overlap with other eye conditions. A WGOS registered optometrist has the specialist equipment and training needed to examine the eye surface, check vision and look for an underlying cause.

• Under 18: children and young people should be referred for optometrist assessment.
• Contact lenses: arrange an examination with the optometrist who prescribed the lenses.
• Persistent symptoms: arrange review if symptoms have not improved after 4 to 6 weeks.
• Possible underlying cause: optometrist assessment is needed when medicines, eyelid problems or a wider medical condition may be contributing.

Read NHS Wales advice about accessing WGOS eye care

When you should seek urgent medical help

Do not wait for a routine pharmacy appointment when urgent eye symptoms are present.

• Seek same-day emergency eye care, A&E or urgent NHS 111 Wales advice for sudden loss of vision, new double vision or a major sudden change in sight.
• Seek same-day help for marked eye redness with moderate-to-severe pain, headache or strong sensitivity to light.
• Contact lens wearers need urgent eye assessment if redness, pain, light sensitivity or watering could indicate corneal involvement.
• Seek urgent assessment after an eye injury, chemical or ultraviolet exposure, possible foreign body, or recent eye surgery or procedure with severe pain or visual loss.
• Seek urgent assessment for swelling or redness around the eye, restricted or painful eye movement, possible herpes around the eye, or copious rapidly worsening discharge.
• Contact an optometrist urgently for flashing lights, wavy lines, worsening vision or other new concerns about your sight.

Self-care measures that may help dry eyes

• Take regular breaks from screens and position the screen slightly below eye level.
• Use a humidifier where helpful and avoid direct air conditioning, fans, smoke, dust and draughts.
• Use a warm compress, gentle eyelid massage and daily lid cleaning if advised, particularly where blepharitis may be contributing.
• Wear glasses instead of contact lenses while the eyes are irritated and arrange review with your prescribing optometrist.
• Avoid eye make-up while symptoms are active if it worsens irritation.
• Ask a pharmacist or prescriber to review whether a medicine could be contributing, but do not stop prescribed treatment without advice.
• Use any supplied eye drops, gel or ointment exactly as advised. Thicker products used at night can temporarily blur vision.

Free NHS eye advice and interim pharmacy treatment

For suspected dry eye, contact a WGOS registered optometrist first. NHS eye-health examinations are available through accredited optometry practices where the service criteria are met.

If you cannot access an optometrist promptly because of distance or travel difficulties, Treherbert Pharmacy may be able to consider interim treatment through the NHS Wales Common Ailments Service after assessment.

• No GP referral is needed: you can contact a WGOS optometrist or the pharmacy directly.
• Eligible CAS care is free: the pharmacy consultation and any treatment supplied through the service are free of charge.
• Assessment comes first: treatment is supplied only when the exceptional pathway is clinically appropriate.
• Treatment is for symptom relief: options may include daytime lubricating drops or a thicker gel or ointment, alongside self-care.
• Optometrist follow-up remains important: interim pharmacy treatment does not identify or treat every possible cause.

Cannot access a WGOS optometrist promptly?

If distance or travel difficulties prevent prompt optometrist access, book the NHS appointment route so the pharmacist can check whether interim Common Ailments Service care is suitable. Do not use routine booking for urgent eye symptoms.

Book an NHS pharmacy appointment

Choose an NHS appointment if you would like help with this condition. The pharmacist will assess whether treatment is suitable or whether you need another service.

Useful links

• Read about the NHS Common Ailments Service at Treherbert Pharmacy
• View all NHS pharmacy services in Treherbert
• Browse conditions covered by NHS pharmacy services
• Read the Welsh Medicines Advice Service dry eyes leaflet
• Read NHS 111 Wales information about dry eyes
• Find an NHS optometrist through NHS 111 Wales

Clinically reviewed by Jon James, Pharmacist Independent Prescriber. Last reviewed: June 2026.