Private same-day eye check for flashes & floaters

A private same-day eye check for new flashes and floaters is an urgent dilated retinal examination — with OCT and widefield imaging — to rule out a retinal tear or retinal detachment behind a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). At our partner clinics it is available from £200, usually on the same day you call, with no GP referral needed. If a tear is found, laser retinopexy can often be performed the same day and is quoted separately. New flashes, a sudden shower of floaters, or a curtain or shadow over your vision should always be examined urgently.

What is a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)?

The inside of the eye is filled with a clear gel called the vitreous. With age the gel naturally shrinks and pulls away from the retina at the back of the eye — this is a posterior vitreous detachment, and it is extremely common after the age of 50. As the vitreous separates it tugs on the retina, which the brain perceives as flashing lights, and casts new shadows seen as floaters.

Most of the time a PVD is harmless and settles over a few weeks. The reason it must be checked promptly is that in a small proportion of cases the vitreous pulls hard enough to tear the retina. A retinal tear can let fluid pass underneath the retina and lift it off — a retinal detachment — which is a surgical emergency and a leading cause of sudden, permanent sight loss if not treated quickly. A same-day dilated examination is the only reliable way to tell a harmless PVD from a sight-threatening tear.

Red-flag symptoms — when to seek urgent care

Contact us or attend an eye casualty the same day if you notice any of the following — especially if they are new, sudden, or getting worse:

• A sudden shower or cloud of new floaters — many more than usual, appearing all at once
• Flashing lights (photopsia) — arc-shaped flashes, often in the peripheral vision and worse in the dark
• A curtain, shadow or dark veil spreading across part of your vision from any direction
• A grey or black area blocking part of your sight
• A sudden drop in vision or a sense that the image is wobbling or distorted

A curtain or shadow over vision is the classic warning sign of a retinal detachment and must never wait. A dense, sudden cloud of floaters can also indicate bleeding inside the eye — a vitreous haemorrhage — which equally needs same-day assessment. If you cannot reach us quickly, attend your nearest hospital eye casualty.

What happens at your same-day check

The urgent assessment is led by a consultant ophthalmologist, usually a vitreoretinal specialist, and takes around 30 to 45 minutes including time for the dilating drops to work. It is a diagnostic examination — there is no surgery on the day unless a tear is found and you choose to have it treated.

What happens next

The dilated examination has three possible outcomes, and your consultant will explain yours on the day:

If your floaters turn out to be long-standing and harmless but still troublesome once a tear has been excluded, your consultant can discuss elective options such as YAG laser vitreolysis or vitrectomy floater removal at a later, non-urgent appointment. These are never a substitute for the same-day check, which always comes first.

Cost & what is included

The urgent same-day assessment is a single transparent fee. It covers the consultant examination and all the imaging needed to make the diagnosis safely — there are no hidden extras for the scans.

• Same-day dilated retinal assessment: from £200, typically £200–£300 depending on clinic and time of day.
• Included: consultant-led dilated examination, OCT scan, widefield retinal imaging, and same-day written safety-netting advice.
• If a tear is found: laser retinopexy is quoted separately, typically from around £900–£1,500, and can often be done at the same visit.
• If detachment is found: you are fast-tracked to our vitreoretinal surgical team; surgery is quoted on assessment.
• Insurance: recognised by Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and others — bring your authorisation code where possible.

Compared with waiting days or weeks for a routine NHS or optician appointment, the value of a same-day private check is time: a retinal tear treated within hours with a few minutes of laser is far simpler — and far more likely to preserve your sight — than a detachment that has been left to progress.

Frequently asked questions