Eye Emergencies

Are you having an eye emergency? Edison Eye Care is here for you!

Here are a few examples:

• Sudden onset of floaters, flashes of light, or visual field loss
• Sudden vision loss, sudden changes in your vision, new onset double vision
• Chemical contact with the eye
• Cuts, punctures, or scratches of the eye or eyelid
• Sudden onset red eyes
• Foreign objects in the eye such as wood, plastic, or metal

New Flashes, Floaters, or Visual Field Loss: This could be signs of a serious sight threatening condition called a retinal detachment which can lead to permanent, silent blindness. Medical intervention may be needed. Please consult your eye doctor or a retinal surgeon as soon as possible. 

A chemical eye injury can be caused by a work-related accident, common household products such as cleaning solutions, garden chemicals, solvents, or other types of chemicals. Fumes and aerosols can also cause chemical burns. With acid burns, the haze on the cornea often clears and there is a good chance of recovery. However, alkaline substances such as lime, lye, and drain cleaners may cause permanent damage to the cornea. Regardless of the exposure, It is important to immediately flush out the eye with large amounts of clean water or salt water (saline) for a few minutes.

In the case of an eye injury:

• do NOT rub or apply pressure to your eye
• do NOT try to remove foreign objects stuck in any part of your eye
• do NOT use tweezers or other tools to remove anything from your eye
• do NOT put medications or ointments in the eye

As for contact lens wearers, attempting to remove your contacts may cause the injury to worsen. The only exceptions to this rule are in situations where there is a chemical injury and the lenses cannot be flushed out with water and immediate medical help cannot be received. 

How to prevent eye injuries

Eye injuries can happen anywhere. Accidents can happen during high-risk activities, but also in places where you least expect them. There are things that can be done to decrease the risk of eye injuries, including wearing protective eyewear when using power tools or engaging in high-risk sporting events, following the directions carefully when working with chemicals or cleaning supplies, keeping scissors, knives, and other sharp instruments away from young children, and keeping a distance from amateur fireworks.
 

To decrease the chances of developing permanent eye damage, immediate medical evaluation is necessary in the event of an eye injury.

At Edison Eye Care, we care about you and your eyes! Acting quickly during an emergency eye situation may save your vision. If you need emergency help, call Edision Eye Care for assistance!