Eye Emergencies (Pink/Red Eyes)

Stay Calm, Act Responsibly

In the event of an eye emergency, staying calm is crucial. Panicking may hinder clear thinking, so take a moment to collect yourself. Remember, maintaining composure not only aids your decision-making process but also helps those around you remain calm.

Assessing Eye Emergencies

Judging the severity of an eye injury without professional guidance can be challenging. Instead of trying to evaluate it on your own, reach out to your eye doctor immediately for instructions tailored to your situation. We are available at Vision i Care to address ocular emergencies promptly.

Emergency Room vs. Optometrist

While emergency rooms are an option for urgent eye care, studies show that most individuals seeking emergency eye care could have been treated by an optometrist. Use your judgment, but if you feel the need to go to the emergency room, don’t delay.

Identifying Eye Emergencies

An eye emergency involves anything that jeopardizes your eyes or vision with the potential for permanent damage.

Common eye emergencies include:

• Eye infection
• Foreign object lodged in the eye
• Eye trauma
• Scratched eye
• Sudden loss of vision
• Misplaced contact lens
• Shattered eyeglass lenses
• Sudden onset of light flashes or floaters

Is an Eye Infection an Emergency?

While eye infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye) generally don’t demand immediate attention, it’s crucial to see your eye doctor promptly for diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms Requiring Urgent Eye Care

Certain symptoms signal the need for emergency eye care:

• Sudden vision loss
• Abrupt double vision
• Immediate eye pain
• New light flashes and/or floaters
• Foreign body in the eye
• Chemical exposure
• Swelling or pain post-eye surgery

Foreign Body in the Eye: What to Do

If an object, be it an eyelash, sand particle, or foreign material, enters your eye, swift removal is vital to prevent serious injury or infection. Seek urgent eye care if you can’t flush out the foreign body yourself with water or saline solution.

Should a foreign body penetrate your eye or if you notice blood or discharge, contact your eye doctor promptly. Describe the incident, and your eye doctor may direct you to an emergency room.

Responding to Eye Emergencies

Contact Vision i Care in Pasadena for emergency eye care appointments. Even if uncertain about the severity, call us – delaying treatment poses risks of complications and vision loss.

Until you receive professional care:

• Avoid pressing or rubbing an injured eye
• Refrain from self-removing foreign bodies
• Do not use dry cotton or sharp instruments on the eye
• Do not attempt to remove embedded objects

Call our Pasadena office for further guidance. We are here to assist you swiftly!