Eye Emergencies & Infections

We're ready to look after all of your eye care needs in one location. In addition to the services you already rely on us for — routine eye exams, contact lenses, designer frames and eyeglasses — think of your optometrist first for:

• Sore, red or itchy eyes
• Treatment of pink eye and other bacterial infections
• Removal of foreign bodies from the eye, such as wood or metal
• Treatment of eye allergies or burns
• Emergency eye care

This is convenient and cost effective for your whole family, and you can be confident you're receiving the attention of an eye care specialist.

Eye Emergencies

We're always willing to help should you ever experience an eye emergency. Our office provides emergency services for eye infections, eye injuries and other urgent concerns. State-of-the-art equipment lets us examine the front surface of the eye and digitally scan inside the eye for infection or damage. We accommodate many eye emergencies, including:

• Eye infections
• Foreign materials stuck in the eyes
• Eye trauma
• Scratched eyes
• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• Lost or broken contact lenses or eyeglasses
• Flashes of light in your vision
• Floaters in your vision
• Red or painful eyes
• Dislodged contact lenses
• Uncomfortable, itchy or irritated eyes

Studies have shown that a large number of emergency room visits could have been treated by an optometrist — most commonly for foreign bodies, severe eye allergies and eye infections. It isn't always necessary to visit an emergency room for eye problems; optometrists are equipped to treat the majority of eye emergencies.

We understand how important prompt eye care is when you notice symptoms like those above. These are signs that an immediate evaluation is necessary — please call us to set one up if you're experiencing an eye emergency of any kind.

Foreign Body Removal

A foreign body is something — an eyelash, sawdust, sand or dirt — that gets into the eye. The main symptom is irritation or pain. Depending on what it is and how the injury happened, a foreign body may pierce the eye and cause serious injury, or it may simply resolve with no long-term problem.

A foreign object can trigger inflammation, causing the surrounding blood vessels to dilate and the lids, conjunctiva and cornea to swell. If it isn't removed, a foreign body can also lead to infection.

If anything has been stuck in your eye for more than a couple of hours, stop all attempts to remove it yourself. The eye is an extremely delicate organ, and trying to force something out can cause more harm than good. If the foreign body isn't bothering you too much, please visit an eye doctor to have it removed. If it's causing significant pain or you can't see clearly, seek emergency care right away.

When you come in, your eye doctor may be able to remove the foreign body for you. They'll first place anaesthetic eye drops in your eye to numb it and prevent any pain.

If the object is easy to reach, it may be possible to remove it by gently rinsing the eye with water or wiping it away. If that isn't successful, your doctor may lift it out using the tip of a small, specialized instrument.

Sometimes the foreign body becomes trapped underneath the upper eyelid — especially if you can feel something there or have scratches (abrasions) on the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye. In that case, your doctor may gently turn the eyelid inside out to remove it.

Once the anaesthetic drops wear off, your eye may feel a little uncomfortable until the abrasion heals.

Whatever is happening with your eyes — and especially if you suspect a foreign body has penetrated the outer layer — don't wait. Left untreated, an eye injury can lead to vision loss, premature cataracts and retinal damage. Don't take chances; delay is dangerous. Call EyesChoice Optometry first.