Vision problems can occur at any time, in any place. While many can be dealt with by performing first aid at home, there are some eye and vision problems that could have serious consequences if they aren’t treated by a professional immediately. Knowing when to treat your issue at home and when to visit your emergency eye doctor isn’t always easy. Thus, we have put together a list of some of the most common eye emergencies that you should see a professional for, and if necessary, what you should do to care for your eye/s until you are seen.  

Chemical Burns to the Eye

Chemicals can be found in all sorts of substances that we use and handle every day, from hairspray and perfume to cleaning materials, antifreeze, and pesticides. It’s easier to get these chemicals into your eyes than you might think, since you can transfer them from your hands and fingers into your eyes or spray them in directly.

If you get a chemical substance into your eyes, you should treat the injury as an emergency and see an eye doctor promptly. However, before you do you should rinse your affected eye to get as much of the chemical out as you can. The less time the chemical is in contact with your eye, the less damage is likely to occur. As painful as it may be, keep your eye open and spray or pour cool, fresh water into it for at least 15 minutes. If you were wearing contact lenses, remove these to ensure that the water rinses beneath them and prevents any chemical from being trapped under the lens. Once you have rinsed for at least 15 minutes, contact your emergency eye doctor.

Scratches to the Surface of the Eyes

It’s not uncommon for a small bit of grit or sand to cause a few micro scratches to the surface of the eyes. However, if you experience a significant scratch, it’s important that you speak to your emergency eye doctor. Don’t be tempted to rub your eye as this could make the damage worse. If you know what has caused the scratch and it’s still in your eye, rinse it to try and dislodge it. Never use tweezers or another object to try and grab it. Instead, cover it with a shield and get to your eye doctor as quickly as you can.

Penetrating Injury

Sometimes injuries occur that involve an object piercing the eyeball itself. Unsurprisingly, this is a major trauma and requires immediate emergency care from a trained and experienced eye doctor. Don’t be tempted to pull the object out as this could cause further damage to your eye and vision. Instead, stay as still as you can, cover the eye with a cup or shield if possible, and get to your eye doctor or emergency room right away.

Sudden Eye Pain or Vision Problems

Vision problems can happen at any time, and it’s definitely not unusual to see momentary distortions or flashes/floaters. However, if you suddenly start to experience a lot of visual disturbances, including flashes, floaters, dark patches, or a curtain of darkness, you should speak to your eye doctor right away as it could be a sign of an eye emergency. Similarly, any sudden, severe eye pain could be an indication of a problem such as acute onset glaucoma and should be assessed by your eye doctor right away.

For more information about when vision problems are an emergency, please contact our experienced and knowledgeable eyecare experts at Clarity Vision in Williamston, North Carolina at (252) 792-2250.