When Should You Require Emergency Eye Care?
What is Emergency Eye Care?
Emergency eye care is all around the clock access for persons with severe eye pain, have sustained trauma, abrupt loss of vision, and other eye-related problems. The objective of emergency eye care is to provide immediate treatment. It might save future problems.
When faced with eye emergencies, you should visit your local eye doctor to advise you on a better alternative. You can also visit an emergency eye clinic that offers emergency eye services. Eye emergencies deserve immediate care to prevent escalation of the problems.
When should you Seek Emergency Eye Care?
Dr. Allyson Tang Optometrist in Scarborough is a skilled emergency optometrist you can visit. She has tremendous experience and handles each case professionally. Some cases categorized as emergencies include:
- Corneal abrasions – it is an eye injury where a scratch occurs on your cornea. It is excruciating and causes blurry vision. It can lead to loss of vision if not monitored.
- Eyelid lacerations – are an injury that occurs on the eyelids.
- Chemicals in the eyes – some chemicals can cause irreversible vision loss. If a chemical splashes into the eye, read the manufacturer’s instructions and seek emergency eye care from an emergency eye doctor.
- Foreign objects in the eye – some materials may enter your eyes, causing a lot of pain. The presence of external objects in the eye can cause vision damage or nerve damage.
- Retinal detachment – This is a condition that occurs when the retina separates itself from the supporting tissues. It may cause permanent loss of vision.
- Orbital bone fractures occur when the bones surrounding the eye fracture from sudden force such as falling on a hard surface, sports injury, or car accident. It may lead to double vision or vision loss.
- Traumatic iritis – it’s a condition that results from the inflammation of the iris. It’s a type of uveitis often caused by blunt trauma such as a poke in the eye.
Symptoms of an Eye Emergency
Depending on the type of eye emergency, several symptoms should give you the green light to visit the optometrist. Are you wondering when you should seek emergency eye care in Scarborough? The signs include:
- Bleeding in the eye or surrounding areas
- Red, painful eyes
- Flashes of light
- Red swollen eyes
- Sudden vision loss
- Black spots or new floaters
- Curtain or veil covering part the vision
Additional signs include:
- Instant severe headaches
- Burning or stinging inside the eye
- Extreme light sensitivity
Process of an Emergency Eye Clinic
If you need emergency eye care services, call the eye specialist, and follow the instructions. During the initial consultation, the eye doctor checks your medical history, examines your symptoms, and conducts an eye examination. The eye specialist also recommends the best treatment option depending on your symptoms and condition.
Notably, not all eye conditions require immediate intervention. Contingent on the severeness of the emergency, you may need frequent follow-ups at the clinic. In other cases, your doctor may refer you to an ophthalmologist for further treatment.
Conclusion
Whether or not your emergency requires immediate intervention of an eye doctor, you don’t take chances with the eyes. Delaying treatment may cause irreversible vision loss.
It is recommended to make it a habit to visit the eye doctor for regular eye examinations. Your family history can also increase your risk of certain eye problems. Consult about your family history to minimize and mitigate the risks associated with eye emergencies.
According to Dr. Allyson Tang, most eye emergencies can be avoided by following safety tips at home, at work, and with the kids. If you are looking for emergency eye care in Scarborough, you can book an appointment with Dr. Allyson Tang Optometrist, Scarborough.