What Qualifies as an Eye Care Emergency?

An eye care emergency is a condition that requires urgent treatment due to a sudden change in a person’s visual or ocular health. Trauma to the eyes, foreign objects, ocular infections, and chemical exposure are all issues that are typically classified as eye care emergencies. Getting prompt treatment for an eye care emergency can help to prevent permanent damage from being done to a person’s eyes.

Some people head right to an emergency room when they sustain an injury to the eye, but most eye emergencies can be treated by an optometrist. Also, an emergency room is not always the fastest way to get treatment and many hospitals can be busy with other patients.

Any issues that suddenly affect a person’s vision typically count as an eye care emergency. Some of these emergencies involve vision loss and severe eye pain. Symptoms that an eye injury requires emergency care include:

• Eye bleeding
• Eye pain
• A bulging or swollen eye
• Double vision or vision loss
• Floaters or new eye flashes
• Blood in the white of the eye
• Unequal sized pupils
• Trauma to the eye
• Severe sensitivity to light
• Itchy or burning eyes
• Eye discharge
• An eye infection
• A foreign object in the eye

People who are not sure if their current issue counts as an eye emergency should visit an optometrist just to make sure their eyes are fine.

Dealing with an eye emergency

A foreign object that is stuck in an eyeball, possibly due to trauma to the eyes is a common eye emergency. Anyone dealing with such an injury should avoid rubbing their eye or attempts to remove the debris. Saline solution can be used to try and flush the eye out and possibly remove the debris. Inducing tears by pulling on the upper and lower eyelids can also help to remove objects stuck in the eyes.

Those who are dealing with an emergency caused by chemical exposure should not attempt to remove any contact lens in the eye with their fingers. Instead, saline solution or water should be poured over the lens to dislodge it. Contact lenses being left in the eye after being exposed to chemicals can trap chemicals on the cornea, making things worse.

Blows to the eye are another common eye emergency. It can be managed with a cold compress to reduce any inflammation and promote healing. The compress should only be used for 5 to 10 minutes each session to allow the eye to rest. A cold compress can easily be made by wrapping ice with a clean cloth. Avoid placing ice directly against the skin.

Signs emergency care is needed immediately include vision changes, increasing or persistent pain, bleeding inside or outside an eye, and any other visible changes to the appearance of the eyes.

Protect your eyes

Not getting appropriate treatment for eye emergencies can have serious consequences like vision loss. Give us a call or visit our Mt Vernon clinic to set up an appointment with our optometrist.

Request an appointment here: https://brighteyesmv.com or call Bright Eyes Optometry at (914) 668-1429 for an appointment in our Mt Vernon office.

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