Eye Emergencies Q&A

Eye infections:

1. What is an eye infection?

• • Eye infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. These infections can affect different parts of the eye such as the eyelids, the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye), or the cornea (the clear, front layer of the eye). Symptoms can include redness, itching, swelling, discharge, pain, or problems with vision. Treatment varies depending on the type of infection and you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to determine the appropriate course of action.

2. What should I do if I spill chemicals in my eye?

• • Chemicals coming in contact with the eye can be very serious and require immediate attention. The eyes should be irrigated with any nonabrasive fluid such as saline or tap water from the time of the chemical exposure until you can reach the care of your eye doctor or an emergency clinic.

3. What should I do if I get sand, metal, or wood, in my eyes?

• • If you believe that a foreign object has gotten in your eye, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to closely evaluate the severity of the situation. They have specific tools and instruments designed to remove the foreign object safely and effectively if needed.

4. I am seeing spots or floating colors suddenly.

• • Disturbances in your vision such as spots or floating colors can be caused by a variety of conditions, some of which can be serious. To determine the cause and receive the appropriate treatment, you should consult with your eye doctor.

5. Are eye infections dangerous?

• • Eye infections are serious problems that can potentially cause you to lose your vision permanently. To ensure that you receive the most appropriate treatment as soon as possible, you should consult with your eye doctor.

6. Can my child go to school with an eye infection?

• • Eye infections are often contagious, especially the type of infection that is most common in children. To ensure that your child is treated appropriately and to determine if their condition is contagious or not, you should consult with your eye doctor.

Foreign Body Removal

1. I have sand stuck in my eye, is it dangerous?

• • Sand can be irritating to the eye and cause scratches that can lead to your eye being more susceptible to an eye infection. It should be removed in a safe manner as directed by your eye doctor.

2. I feel like I have dirt in my eye when I wear contact lenses, is that dangerous?

• • Contact lens discomfort can be caused by a variety of different reasons, To determine the cause and receive the appropriate treatment, you should consult with your eye doctor.

Scratches

1. My child scratched my eye…what should I do?

• • Scratches on the eye can be very painful and make the eye more susceptible to an eye infection. To ensure that you receive the appropriate treatment and management, you should consult with your eye doctor.

2. Is a scratch on the eye dangerous?

• • Scratches to the can make the eye more susceptible to an eye infection and lead to reoccurring problems in the future. To avoid these problems, you should consult with your eye doctor to receive the appropriate care.

Trauma

1. I got hit in the eye with a baseball, is that dangerous for my vision?
2. Should I visit an eye doctor if I got a black eye?
3. I have pain in my eye after getting a black eye, should I visit the emergency room or an eye doctor?

• • Trauma to the eye can be very painful and lead to a number of complications that can have serious consequences on you vision. A thorough exam is needed after any trauma to the eye to ensure these complications have not occurred. Any loss of vision, flashes of light, floaters, light sensitivity, and double vision are especially concerning symptoms that warrant an appointment for further evaluation with your eye doctor.

Kids

1. My toddler is complaining that his eye hurts, should I make an appointment with the Optometrist?
2. My child came home from school saying that his eye hurts, what should I do?

• • Children can experience eye pain and eye strain for a variety of reasons. To determine the cause and receive the appropriate treatment, you should consult with your eye doctor.

3. My child’s eye looks very red, what should I do?

• • Eye infections are relatively common in children and could be the reason why your child’s eye appears red. To ensure that your child is treated appropriately and to determine if their condition is contagious or not, you should consult with your eye doctor.

4. My child has a weird bump in his eye, should I make an appointment?

• • A bump on an eye could be caused by a variety of things, some of which require initiating treatment to resolve. In order to determine the appropriate course of action, you should consult with your eye doctor.

Severe Emergencies

1. I just lost my vision in one eye, should I visit the emergency room?

• Vision loss is not only serious to your sight but can also be a sign that there is a life-threatening problem going on. If you cannot immediately be evaluated by your eye doctor, then you should visit the emergency room.

2. I am seeing double, should I go to the eye doctor?

• Double vision is a potentially serious complication of systemic conditions. A thorough exam by your eye doctor is warranted to determine the cause and appropriate course of action to take care of your problem.

3. I have severe pain in my eye, what do I do?

• Eye pain can caused by a variety of things, some of which require initiating treatment to resolve. In order to determine the appropriate treatment plan, you should consult with your eye doctor.

4. I feel a lot of pressure behind my eye, what should I do?

• Feeling pressure behind your eye is a symptom that should be treated seriously. You eye doctor can run specific tests to help determine the cause of this eye pressure and initiate a treatment plan if needed.