Eye Emergencies

A scratch on the clear front part of your eye causes sharp pain, tearing, light sensitivity, and feeling like something is stuck in your eye. Most heal with lubrication and protection, but large, central, or contaminated scratches need antibiotic treatment, especially in contact lens wearers.

A corneal infection, often in contact lens users, can threaten vision quickly. Symptoms include severe pain, discharge, extreme light sensitivity, and a white spot on the cornea that requires immediate antibiotic treatment.

Sudden rise in eye pressure leads to severe pain, headache, seeing halos around lights, blurred vision, nausea, and a red eye. Pressure-lowering medications and laser treatment are needed urgently to prevent permanent blindness.

Retinal tears can cause flashes and floaters and may progress to a detachment with a shadow or curtain blocking vision. Laser treatment or freezing therapy can seal tears, while detachments often need urgent surgery to reattach the retina.

Inflammation inside the eye causes pain, severe light sensitivity, and blurred vision. Treatment includes steroid and dilating drops once infection is ruled out by our ophthalmologists.

Blood pooling in the front of the eye after trauma can raise pressure dangerously and stain the cornea. Treatment requires head elevation, eye protection, and close pressure monitoring to prevent complications.

A deep infection around the eye causes swelling, fever, pain with eye movement, and possible double vision. This serious condition often requires hospital antibiotics and imaging studies.

Chemical burns from cleaning products, acids, or cement can cause serious damage in minutes. Alkali burns from drain cleaners are especially dangerous because they continue burning deeper into eye tissues even after the chemical is removed.

We prescribe antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and anti-inflammatory drops to treat infections and reduce harmful inflammation. Steroid drops are only used when safe and appropriate for your specific condition after ruling out infection.

Oral medications and topical drops quickly reduce dangerously high eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve. Laser peripheral iridotomy may follow to create better drainage and prevent future pressure spikes in angle-closure glaucoma.

Embedded debris, metal particles, and rust rings are carefully removed under our surgical microscope for faster, more comfortable healing. Rust rings from metal must be removed same-day to prevent permanent staining. Protective bandage contact lenses or eye shields may be placed afterward.

Laser photocoagulation seals retinal tears to prevent detachment in many cases. Freezing therapy called cryotherapy is another option when laser treatment isn't suitable for your specific tear pattern.

Procedures like vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or gas bubble injection are chosen based on the type and location of retinal detachment. Early surgical repair offers the best chance to restore useful vision.

Targeted antibiotic therapy and appropriate pain medications improve comfort while your eye heals. Special dilating drops can reduce painful muscle spasms and severe light sensitivity during recovery. Topical anesthetics are never prescribed for home use due to corneal damage risk.

Sudden vision changes, severe eye pain, new flashes and floaters with vision loss or shadows, chemical exposure, eye injuries, or red painful eyes with light sensitivity all require same-day evaluation. When in doubt about the seriousness of your symptoms, it's always better to seek urgent care rather than wait.

Most cases of mild conjunctivitis are not emergencies and can wait for regular appointments. However, severe pain, significant light sensitivity, or vision changes can signal more serious problems like bacterial infection, herpes keratitis, or inflammation that need urgent treatment. Contact lens wearers with red, painful eyes should always seek same-day care.

Yes, start flushing immediately with clean water or saline if available and continue for at least 15 to 30 minutes without stopping. Immediate, thorough irrigation is the most important first aid step for chemical injuries and should not be delayed while seeking professional help.

A bright red spot on the white part of your eye without pain or vision changes is usually a harmless subconjunctival hemorrhage that clears on its own. However, you should seek care if you have pain, discharge, vision changes, or repeated bleeding episodes that may signal underlying health problems.

Many eye emergencies require dilated examination so our ophthalmologists can view the retina and optic nerve completely. Near vision may be blurry and light sensitivity can occur for several hours after dilation, so arranging transportation is recommended.

No, never use leftover or expired eye drops from previous conditions. Using inappropriate medications can worsen infections, mask symptoms, or delay proper treatment. Only use medications prescribed specifically for your current problem by our eye doctors.

Pupil dilation and eye discomfort may make driving unsafe, so arranging a driver for your appointment is wise. Dark sunglasses can help with light sensitivity, but vision may remain blurry for several hours after certain treatments or examinations.

Treatment depends on the type, size, and location of the detachment and may include laser therapy, freezing treatment, gas bubble injection, scleral buckle surgery, or vitrectomy. Earlier repair generally leads to better visual outcomes and recovery.

Bring a list of current medications, your medical history, insurance information, and any chemical containers or foreign objects involved in the injury. If you wear contact lenses, bring your lens case and any remaining lenses if possible for our evaluation.

Go directly to the emergency room for chemical burns with severe pain, penetrating eye injuries, eye injuries with other serious trauma, or sudden vision loss accompanied by stroke symptoms like weakness, trouble speaking, or facial drooping.

No, not all flashes and floaters are emergencies. Only sudden onset flashes and floaters, especially when accompanied by vision loss, a shadow, or a curtain blocking vision, require urgent care. Gradual onset or longstanding floaters are usually not urgent.

Amaurosis fugax is temporary vision loss that comes and goes, often described as a shade coming down over the eye. This can signal problems with blood flow to the eye or brain and requires urgent evaluation even if vision returns to normal.

Herpes keratitis causes severe eye pain, light sensitivity, redness, and sometimes a white spot on the cornea. People with a history of cold sores or fever blisters are at higher risk. This viral infection requires urgent antiviral treatment to prevent vision loss.

Alkali chemicals like drain cleaners and cement continue to penetrate and damage deeper eye tissues even after the chemical is removed. Acid burns tend to cause more surface damage but don't penetrate as deeply. Both require immediate irrigation and urgent care.

Untreated eye emergencies can lead to permanent vision loss, blindness, loss of the eye, or even life-threatening complications like brain infections. Early treatment usually provides the best chance for full recovery and preserving vision.

No, never apply ice directly to an injured eye as this can cause additional damage. Use a cold compress wrapped in a clean cloth and apply it around the eye, not directly on the eyeball itself.