What You Need to Know About Eye Emergencies

Eye injuries can make your eyes bleed and cause ugly bruising and swelling in the whole ocular area. Eye infections can cause oozing discharge and itchy, bloodshot eyes. There’s no doubt about it – eye injuries and infections can be painful, unsightly, and terribly frightening! In addition, both of these problems can require urgent medical treatment.

If you suffer any type of trauma to your eye, either from an impact injury, a foreign body stuck in your eye, or contact with a chemical substance, don’t go it alone! Or if you suddenly discover that your eye is red, swollen and/or oozing, you may need emergency eye care from a qualified medical professional. We are here to help – no matter what time of day or night – from our offices in Johnstown, Westerville, or Lewis Center. Located conveniently to serve you, we are your compassionate emergency optometrist near me, and we are pleased to provide 24-hour emergency eye care!

What are the reasons to rush for emergency eye care treatment?

In case you were wondering what qualifies as an eye emergency, the most common reasons include:

Eye infections
Removal of a foreign object stuck in your eye
Irritation due to a chemical substance; chemical burn
Black eye; bleeding in your eye or ocular area
Eye allergy symptoms
Corneal abrasions

When it comes to responding to any of these problems, time is of the essence. Do not delay! By seeking help from your emergency optometrist, you can avoid many future complications and problems with your vision. Call us at any hour – we provide 24-hour emergency eye care services in Lewis Center, Westerville, or Johnstown.

How do I know if this is really an eye emergency?

We understand that it can sometimes be difficult to recognize which symptoms qualify as a real emergency or not. Here is a basic outline of the typical red flags that indicate you should visit an emergency optometrist near me:

Red or pink eyes
Stinging or burning
Ocular pain
Irritation or itchiness
Foreign object stuck in your eye
Double Vision
Burns
Seeing flashes of light
New sensitivity to light
Sudden changes in pupil size
New “floaters” in your field of view
Dark shadows gliding across your vision
Sudden vision loss, in one or both eyes

Don’t be shy. If you notice any of these signs, we want to see you in our eye care office! Our emergency optometrist will listen to your symptoms and inspect your eyes closely in order to provide helpful treatment. And don’t worry – if we detect a serious eye condition that may require surgery or care from an ophthalmologist, we will refer you speedily to a first-rate specialist in the area.

How can I recognize an eye infection?

A varied list of culprits can lead to eye infections, such as bacteria, viruses, or contact with a dangerous substance. In general, people who wear contact lenses are more prone to eye infections. If you wear contacts, the first thing you should do in the event of a possible eye infection is remove your contacts and wear eyeglasses until you visit our emergency optometrist in Westerville, Johnstown, or Lewis Center.

Some eye infections can threaten the long-lasting health of your vision, which is why you need to book an urgent eye exam. Signs to watch out for include:

Discharge from your eye that is watery, green, yellow, or bloody (white or creamy colored discharge is common and normal)
Red eyes or red and swollen eyelids
Sensation that something is stuck in your eye
A white or gray sore on your iris
Pain in your eye
Blurry vision, or other vision changes
Increased sensitivity to light
Fever, with no other cause

Not Sure if You Have an Eye Emergency? Call Us for 24-Hour Emergency Eye Care!

If you’re not certain whether your eye problem is an emergency or not – reach out to us for help! Doing nothing is dangerous and can lead to vision loss, premature cataracts, and retinal damage. Don’t take chances with your vision. Our emergency optometrist in Lewis Center, Westerville, and Johnstown, OH, will help to keep your sight safe!