Eye Care Emergencies

At CustomEyes, we treat and mitigate eye care emergencies as much as possible. If you’ve experienced trauma to the eye or have symptoms of an injured eye, seeking prompt care is essential.

Eye emergencies are high-stress moments for anyone, regardless of whether you’re the one in need of immediate eye emergency care. However, in the panic of the moment, it’s sometimes very difficult to figure out what’s really “an emergency” and what can wait until later.

Despite the confusion, it’s important to know what merits a trip to a hospital emergency room (ER). This is especially true with public health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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What's Considered Emergency Eye Care?

An eye emergency are any abrupt problems with the eye area or changes in vision. These ocular or visual health problems or changes could arise with or without an easily identifiable cause.

Events like:

  • Eye trauma and chemical injury are easy examples of clear cause.
  • Sudden vision loss, red eye, and flashing lights in your visual field may also require an eye exam to determine the cause.

Factors like these could point to more severe physiological issues. For such reasons, you should go to the ER.

Emergencies for Eye Doctors

Optometrists are not usually the first line of defense for urgent, emergency eye care. We equip our offices to to perform an eye exam  and examine, diagnose, treat and manage eye diseases and disorders, which are a bit slower moving than a sudden eye injury. That’s why it’s important to know where to go for an eye emergency.

Additionally, eye care emergencies may have complications that might require medical specialists unrelated to examining your eye’s condition, like surgeons or neurologists. To speed the first aid process, an ER visit is the simplest answer to minimize your chances of long-term eye or vision injury.

What Should I Go to the ER For?

If you experience any of the following, visit a hospital ER:

  • Eye burns from chemical exposure
  • Retinal detachment from trauma
  • Foreign object stuck in eye
  • Vision loss or double vision
  • Scratches on cornea from dirt, metal or wood shavings or contact lenses
  • Sudden fluid discharge from eye (e.g., blood, mucus)
  • Eye bulging from socket
  • Pink eye discharge (e.g., clear watery fluid, yellow-green fluid, red eyes)
  • Severe light sensitivity

Sudden, acute pain is very different from severe discomfort. It’s important to identify with either yourself or your loved one what requires an unavoidable trip to the ER.

Infections like pink eye can be either viral or bacterial, with varying transmission levels. Although an optometrist can prescribe eye drops to treat conjunctivitis (pink eye), waiting on an appointment means you could spread it to others.

Optometrist Emergency Care

If you do visit us for an emergency, the CustomEyes team’s first goal is to eliminate or mitigate any immediate threat to your eye, eye area or your vision. As we administer first aid to your eye, we also try to treat the acute pain or injury (if possible).

If we can completely resolve the immediate threat of your eye emergency situation, we refer you to other specialists or set up an appointment to follow up on the healing process.

Contact us today to book an appointment and get the urgent care your eyes deserve..

FAQ: Eye Emergencies

Review these FAQs so you know when an eye problem is an emergency and where to go for fast care.

How do I know if my eye problem is a true emergency?

Warning signs include sudden vision loss, double vision, severe pain, eye burns or a foreign object in the eye. Heavy discharge, eye bulging or flashes of light can also be urgent. If you’re unsure, it’s safest to treat it as an emergency and seek care right away.

Should I go to the ER or come to CustomEyes first for an eye emergency?

For serious injuries, chemical burns, eye bulging or sudden vision loss, go to the hospital emergency room immediately. The ER can handle life- and sight-threatening issues and involve other specialists if needed. CustomEyes can help with follow-up care and less urgent problems or advise next steps if you call.

What should I do right away if something gets in my eye or I’m injured?

Do not rub your eye, and do not try to remove embedded objects yourself. If it is a chemical splash, start rinsing with clean water and seek emergency care immediately. For other injuries or sudden symptoms, go to the ER or call us so we can guide you.

Can I use eye drops from home to treat an emergency?

Do not use any drops, especially redness relievers, without guidance for a true emergency. They can sometimes mask important symptoms. In urgent situations, seek professional care first, then follow their specific instructions.

What information should I bring if I come in after an eye injury?

Bring details about how and when the injury happened, plus any chemicals or objects involved. Also bring your current medications, allergies and eye history. This helps us treat you quickly and safely.