Your eyes are important, and when something goes wrong, it can be frightening. Knowing when to call your optometrist or head straight to an eye emergency clinic can make all the difference in preserving your vision during an eye emergency.
Dr. Saad, an emergency eye doctor at Millcreek Vision Care in Mississauga, provides emergency eye care to ensure you get the help you need when you need it most.
What is Considered an Eye Emergency?
An eye emergency includes any sudden, unexpected, and severe condition threatening vision or eye health. This includes incidents such as:
- Significant eye trauma
- Chemical exposures
- Severe eye infections (characterized by extreme pain, redness, swelling, and discharge)
- Sudden vision changes like complete or partial vision loss,
- Seeing floaters or flashes of light
- An abrupt increase in light sensitivity
Additionally, conditions such as retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, and severe contact lens complications require immediate attention.
When to Call Your Emergency Optometrist
For many eye-related issues, your first call should be to an emergency optometrist like Dr. Saad. They are trained to handle a variety of eye emergencies and can often see you quickly. Here are some situations where calling your optometrist is appropriate:
- Minor Eye Injuries: If you have a small foreign object in your eye, such as dust or an eyelash, our emergency eye doctor can help remove it safely.
- Sudden Vision Changes: If you experience sudden blurriness, floaters, or light flashes, it’s vital to contact your optometrist, as they could be signs of a retinal detachment or other severe conditions.
- Eye Pain or Discomfort: Persistent eye pain, redness, or discomfort should be evaluated by an optometrist. They could be triggered by conjunctivitis (pink eye) or a corneal abrasion.
- Contact Lens Issues: Our optometrist can resolve the issue if you have problems with your contact lenses, such as a lens stuck in your eye or severe irritation.
- Sudden Light Sensitivity: This can be a symptom of various conditions, including infections or inflammation, which your optometrist can diagnose and treat.
Dr. Saad offers comprehensive emergency eye care services in Mississauga. If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to call our office for immediate assistance.
When to Go to an Emergency Room
Certain eye emergencies require immediate medical attention that may go beyond what an optometrist can provide. Head to an emergency eye clinic if you encounter any of the following:
- Severe Eye Injuries: If you experience a serious injury, such as a chemical burn, penetrating injury, or significant trauma to the eye, go to the emergency room immediately.
- Sudden and Complete Vision Loss: If you suddenly lose vision in one or both eyes. It could indicate a stroke or other severe issue requiring urgent care.
- Severe Eye Infection: Symptoms like extreme pain, swelling, fever, and pus from the eye can signal a severe infection that needs hospital treatment.
- Head Injury with Vision Problems: If you’ve sustained a head injury and are experiencing vision problems, it’s important to be evaluated by a physician in an emergency room.
- Eye Exposure to Harmful Substances: If your eye has been exposed to chemicals or other harmful substances, rinse it with water immediately and seek emergency medical care.
How Optometrists Handle Emergencies
Emergency eye doctors are equipped to handle a wide range of eye emergencies. Here's how they typically manage urgent situations:
Assessment: Dr. Saad will conduct a thorough examination to determine the nature and severity of the problem. This may include visual acuity tests, eye pressure measurements, and detailed inspection using specialized equipment.
Treatment: Depending on the diagnosis, Dr. Saad may provide immediate treatment, such as removing foreign objects, prescribing medications like pink eye drops, or offering guidance on home care.
Referral: Our optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist or a hospital if the condition requires more extensive care, such as surgery or advanced medical intervention.
Follow-Up: Ensuring proper healing and recovery is crucial, so our urgent eye doctor will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and adjust treatments as necessary.
Visit Us for Emergency Eye Care in Mississauga, Ontario
Understanding when to call your emergency optometrist and when to head to an emergency eye clinic can protect your vision and overall health. If you ever experience an eye emergency, visit our eye clinic at Millcreek Vision Care in Mississauga.