Emergency Eye Care

At New Vision Ophthalmology, we take eye emergencies very seriously.

If you are experiencing flashes of light or floaters in your vision, sudden loss of vision, or eye trauma, contact our office immediately. For life-threatening emergencies, dial 911.

Is It An Eye Emergency?

Common situations that require emergency care include:

• Exposure to caustic/chemical materials
• Sudden, unexpected loss of vision
• Foreign object in the eye
• Certain eye infections
• Blood or other fluids leaking from the eyes
• Sudden, sharp pain in the eye that won’t subside
• Severe allergic reactions to the eyes
• Abrasions/cuts/scratches
• Burns
• Sudden distortion of vision

This is by no means an all-inclusive list. If you think it’s an emergency, follow your instinct and get immediate help.

Types Of Eye Emergencies

Types of eye emergencies include, but are not limited to:

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a situation where the retina detaches from the eye. It often occurs from blunt force trauma, as may occur while playing sports, from a vehicle accident, or from a hard fall off an electric bicycle, for example.

Bulging Eye

Bulging eyes can be caused by an underlying disorder such as thyroid eye disease, an infection, or other reasons. If a person develops one or more bulging eyes, getting emergency eye care right away is important, since eyesight could be in danger.

Scratched or Cut Cornea

Scratched and cut corneas are one of the most common eye emergencies. It can happen from an accidental paper cut, an airborne shard of glass, a flying wood splinter, a sharp wayward fingernail, or something else. Whatever the reason, corneal abrasions require emergency eye care.

Can Eye Emergencies Be Treated At Home?

Some minor eye emergencies can sometimes be treated at home. For example:

• Minor eye allergy — the solution may be to move away from the allergen or take an over-the-counter antihistamine.
• Overexposure to UV light — exposing the eyes to UV light, such as from a tanning bed, will result in gritty, painful eyes and blurry vision. With bed rest and keeping the eyes closed, the condition normally solves itself within 24 hours.
• Eyelash in eye — bathing the eye in water and gently massaging a closed eyelid usually gets rid of this uncomfortable condition.

Never assume that an eye emergency can be treated at home. Always confer with your ophthalmologist at New Vision Ophthalmology before undertaking treatment for an eye care problem, even if it seems simple.

Emergency Eye Care Treatments

If you need emergency eye care, your eye doctor has a wide range of treatment options, including eye surgery when necessary. Which one is appropriate will depend upon the specific situation.