Eye Emergencies: When to Call the Doctor

The eyes are vital organs, and they tend to be vulnerable to infection and injury. An eye emergency can occur anywhere at any time, necessitating medical attention immediately. Eye emergencies involve a wide range of conditions. The most common ones are impact injuries or foreign objects in the eye. 

Without proper treatment, an eye injury can cause partial or total vision loss. It is helpful to know how to identify signs of serious eye problems. You can identify eye emergencies and know when to call the doctor. 

Eye Injuries

An eye injury can result from different incidents such as getting poked or hit in the eye. The impact can damage the cornea, a situation that requires emergency care. 

Symptoms of pain and cornea tearing develop hours after the incident. Getting emergency treatment can help prevent the worsening of the injury. It is important to avoid rubbing the eye after an injury.

Object in the Eye

An object getting into the eye constitutes an eye emergency. The object can be a glass shard, sand, metal, or any foreign object. There are some steps you can take before going to the emergency room. 

Use clean water to flush out the eye and blink several times to see if tears can dislodge the object. If the object remains in the eye, close it, apply a light bandage over it, and call the eye doctor.

Chemical Injuries

Chemical burns to the eyes are an eye emergency. The burns can result from garden chemicals, cleaning products, or industrial chemicals. If chemicals get into the eyes, they can cause serious harm, but early treatment can help prevent irreversible vision loss. 

Fumes and aerosols can also cause burns in the eyes. Some products can cause permanent damage to the cornea. Hold your head under a tap and try flushing your eyes using cool water for 15 minutes.

Sudden Vision Loss

If you experience blind spots or suddenly lose vision in one or both eyes, you need emergency eye care. Other symptoms that require immediate care include double vision, tunnel vision, blurred vision, and sight distortions. 

The symptoms could signify an impending stroke or another severe medical condition. Blurred vision can be a sign of retinal detachment. If not treated immediately, blurred vision can lead to permanent vision loss.

Pain or Black Eye

Severe eye pain or a black eye due to injury requires a visit to the eye doctor. Other signs that need emergency treatment include eye swelling, bleeding, unusual pupil shape, and one eye sticking out. 

If your eyes do not look normal or are not moving the same way, you need immediate treatment. If you see any cuts on your eyelid or blood in your eye, you need to visit an eye specialist immediately. 

If you have a large object stuck in your eye, leave it where it is as you go to the emergency room. Applying pressure or attempting to remove it can cause severe damage. Use protective eyewear as much as possible to avoid eye injuries. 

To know when to call the doctor during eye emergencies, visit Blue Hills Eye Associates at our office in Braintree, Massachusetts. You can call (781) 794-2200 today to schedule an appointment.