Your Eye Health Can’t Wait

If an eye care emergency occurs, it’s vital that you seek medical attention immediately as your eye health could suffer severe consequences. Please call us, and we will do our best to treat you as soon as possible.

It can be scary if you suddenly notice reduced vision, lots of flashes or floaters, severe eye redness, discharge, or pain. But, we’re here to help you through it, and we strive to provide our best care to preserve your vision.

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Signs That You Need an Eye Doctor Immediately

Chances are, you’ll intuitively know an emergency when it happens. But, in case you want to confirm your assumptions, here are some warning signs of eye emergencies that necessitate medical attention.

vision loss
burning, stinging, or pain in the eyes
pupils are not the same size
one eye is not moving like the other
one eye is sticking out or bulging
eye pain
decreased or double vision
redness and irritation
light sensitivity
bruising around the eye
bleeding from the eye
blood in the white part of the eye
discharge from the eye
severe itching
new or severe headaches

Recognize Your Eye Care Emergency

Any eye emergency can severely damage your visual health—it’s often vital that you seek medical attention immediately to protect your vision. Knowing what some common eye emergencies are can help you take the appropriate action promptly.

Corneal Abrasion or Scratch

A corneal abrasion is caused by something getting in your eye and scratching the cornea (the transparent tissue covering the eye’s front). For instance, say you get poked in the eye or during a hike, a pesky speck of dust enters where it doesn’t belong. This could lead to redness, discomfort, or light sensitivity from a corneal abrasion, all of which require immediate attention.

Don’t touch or rub your eye. And, on your way to the eye doctor, avoid covering it with a dark patch—bacteria can enter the abrasion, and it grows in dark, warm places.

Blunt Force Trauma to the Eye

If you sustain a blow to the eye or you’re in a severe accident resulting in blunt force trauma to your face, you could develop eye inflammation, internal bleeding, bruising, fractures, or cracks in the bones surrounding the eye.

Likewise, getting hit with something, if you fall, or otherwise have any kind of blunt force trauma to the eye, your injuries should be addressed by a medical professional immediately.

Chemical Contact

Chemical injuries can happen inside and outside the science lab. For instance, many cleaning products, personal hygiene products, and aerosols are made with chemicals that can cause damage to your eyes. While you’re handling chemicals, always ensure you use protective safety eyewear.

If you’re handling chemicals and they splash in your eye, or you get sprayed, rinse your eyes under lukewarm water for about 15 minutes to flush out the chemicals as best you can. Then, contact your eye doctor or head to the nearest emergency room.

Chemical eye burns are divided into 3 categories: alkali, acid, and irritants. All 3 can cause acute damage. So, if your eyes encounter chemicals, you must visit a medical professional promptly.

Retinal Detachment

As the name suggests, retinal detachment occurs when the retina (at the back of the eye) departs from its normal position. It may not cause immediate pain, but the warning signs can indicate that you need medical attention. If retinal detachment goes untreated, it could lead to total vision loss.

You may experience:

Sudden appearance of many floaters and flashes
Blurred vision
Reduced peripheral vision
A dark shadow over your visual field

Act Quickly to Preserve Your Vision

Life happens. Something might get in your eye, or symptoms suddenly appear that weren’t there before. And, eye emergencies should not be underestimated.

Please, get in touch with us if you have any concerns about your eye health or are experiencing an eye emergency.

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