Emergency eye care: steps to take before reaching the optometry clinic

Just as life happens, so do accidents and emergencies. Your vision is one of the most precious assets one possesses. It’s important to seek proper care if your eyes or the eyes of someone you care for are suddenly impacted by pain, swelling, loss of, or double vision, or if the eye area has suffered a trauma, to ensure the best possible chance at recovery.

What should you do before visiting an emergency eye care professional? Langley Optometry Clinic has put together this handy guide to help you understand what constitutes an eye emergency, what to do, and what not to do before seeking help from an optometrist.

What Is Considered an Eye Emergency?

Many eye conditions like dryness and itchiness can be uncomfortable, but they don’t constitute an emergency. Emergencies in the eye care world comprise a list of conditions and events that may cause or be caused by something that can affect your vision in the long run. The list includes:

·       Double vision

·       Sudden loss of vision

·       Foreign elements (chemicals, metals) in the eye

·       Bleeding

·       Swelling

·       Pain

·       Redness if accompanied by pain or blurred vision

·       Pink eye

·       Sudden onset of floaters or flashing lights.

If you are experiencing any of those conditions, calling an emergency eye care professional like Langley Optometry Clinic is necessary. We will determine if there are any threats to your eyesight and begin any necessary treatment while determining if an urgent referral to a specialist is necessary.

Before Your Visit

Before visiting your optometrist, there are a few things you should know. Refer to the list below to learn how to care for your injury or condition before you seek help.

Cut, Scratch or Trauma to the Eye or Eyelid

·       Wash the cut carefully, but do not apply pressure to stop the bleeding

·       Cover the injury with a clean dressing

·       If the cut is to the eyelid, consider a cold compress to diminish or prevent swelling

Small Foreign Object in the Eye

Sand, dirt, and eyelashes can easily get in your eye. Before visiting a professional, you can take a few steps to remove the foreign object yourself or remove it from someone else’s eye.

·       Try clearing it by blinking and inducing tears.

·       Do not rub the eyes.

·       Try to locate the object by looking in all directions. You may gently pull the lower lid down or flip the upper lid up with the help of a cotton swap.

·       Try to flush out the object with water or artificial tears.

Object Embedded in the Eye

·       Leave the object in the eye

·       Do not apply pressure

·       Stay calm

·       Loosely cover both eyes (to help prevent eye movement). To avoid pushing the foreign object further, you may use a paper or plastic cup to cover the injured eye.

Chemical in the Eye

·       Flush out the eye with a stream of fresh water for 15 minutes, or use an eyewash station if available

·       Take a shower if both eyes are affected, and an eyewash station is not available

·       Once the eyes are flushed, remove contact lenses if applicable

·       Continue flushing the eye with clean water or saline solution for another 15 minutes.

Ready for Your Visit

Once you have ensured that your eye is in the best possible condition, you should contact an emergency eye care professional like Langley Optometry Clinic to get an appointment as soon as possible.

Seeking help without delay is a great way to answer all the questions that you may have about your vision and to get the treatment you need to get your situation under control. If you are experiencing an eye emergency, contact the optometrists at Langley Optometry Clinic immediately.