What Symptoms Indicate an Eye Emergency?

The eyes are vital organs, and they are also quite vulnerable to infection and injury. It is important to get medical treatment if you experience pain, redness, or swelling in the eyes. Damage to the eyes can lead to partial or permanent vision loss. 

Knowing how to handle eye emergencies can help you protect your sight. Some symptoms require immediate attention, and they call for a visit to an emergency clinic. 

Eye Pain

If you experience a sharp, dull, stabbing, or burning sensation in the eye, you need emergency care. Eye pain is one of the leading reasons to get emergency care. The eye pain can occur in or around the eyes. 

Ocular pain occurs in different forms, but it is always a reason to seek immediate treatment. Putting off treatment can have serious consequences. An eye doctor will carry out an evaluation to find out the cause of the eye pain. 

Eye Injury

Many eye emergencies occur due to various situations that lead to injuries. If you get hit in the eye, you can end up with a scratched cornea. When this happens, you need emergency treatment. Some symptoms of an eye injury include tearing, pain, and the sensation of having something in the eye. 

The strength of the impact will determine the extent of the injury. A scratched cornea is relatively easy to diagnose and with proper treatment, it heals quickly.

Sudden Vision Loss

If you suddenly find that you cannot see out of one or both eyes, you need to visit the emergency room. Sudden vision loss or change in vision can be a sign of serious medical conditions such as a stroke. 

Other symptoms that should worry you include blurred vision, blind spots, tunnel vision, and other vision distortions. Developing problems with your vision can be the result of retinal detachment. This condition is so serious that it can lead to blindness if not treated promptly.

Something in the Eye

If something gets in the eye, you may need to get emergency care. It can be anything from a glass or metal shard to sand or even an insect. Before going to the emergency room, try flushing out the object using clean water. In some cases, blinking can dislodge the object as tears form in the eye. The longer the object remains in the eye, the more damage it can do. 

Red or Pink Eye

Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is a common eye condition that can call for emergency care. In some cases, the condition can get better on its own. In other cases, red or pink eyes require medical attention as they can indicate a serious eye issue. Intense redness accompanied by pain, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light requires emergency medical care.

Exposure to Chemicals

Chemical substances getting into the eyes can cause serious injuries. This can happen suddenly and unexpectedly and, in some cases, it causes the eyes to sting or burn. It is important to seek emergency care even if the substance does not cause immediate pain. As soon as the substance gets into the eye, place your head under a stream of water and allow it to wash out the chemicals for at least 10 minutes.

For more on eye emergencies, visit Primary Eye Care at our office in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can also call (662) 200-9842 to book an appointment today.