While we hope our patients don’t find themselves in the midst of an eye emergency, we understand that emergencies do happen and are here to help you through them. We always leave room in our schedule to accommodate same-day appointments if you need to see us in a hurry.
If you are experiencing an eye emergency, you’ll have a sudden change in your ocular health or vision. This may include pain, discomfort, sudden onset of double vision, or vision loss.
Common eye emergencies include cuts, objects in or embedded in the eye, chemical reactions, or trauma. Sudden infections or blood clots may need immediate medical attention to maximize the chances of recovery.
If you’ve experienced a fall or injury to the head, neck, or face, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible for immediate treatment. Symptoms of trauma to the eyes include bruising, swelling, broken blood vessels and, in some cases, bleeding.
Some occupations require the handling of dangerous and corrosive chemicals which can cause permanent damage and vision loss if they come into contact with the eyes. Additionally, many household cleaning products, including fumes and aerosols, can be dangerous to your eye health.
Chemical injuries require medical attention immediately.
Getting a foreign object in the eye can potentially be extremely dangerous to your vision if not attended to immediately. Dust, sand, and other debris can usually be easily rinsed out with minimal discomfort or damage.
An object embedded in the eye can be much more dangerous, especially if it enters and damages the cornea or lens, so please seek medical attention if this ever happens to you.
Seeing flashes or floaters can also mean you are experiencing an eye emergency.
The term flashes refers to random flashes of light that seem to come out of nowhere. The retina is a very sensitive system of tissues covering most of the interior of the eye. When light hits these tissues, it stimulates the retina to send an impulse through the optic nerve.
The term floaters refers to the mysterious floating shapes that seem to appear in the margins of your vision from time to time. Please contact us for if you are experiencing a sudden onset of either of these symptoms.
If you experience an emergency, you can take a few steps to minimize damage while waiting for medical attention.
If you’ve scratched or hurt your eye, apply a clean, cold compress to the eye gently without pressure. Seek medical help immediately.
If chemicals enter your eye, flush your eye with cool tap water immediately. Holding your eye under any faucet with your eye facing down and to the side, run water over the eye for at least 15 minutes.
If you are wearing contact lenses, try to remove them with clean hands and continue to rinse your eyes, and seek medical attention.
If you get something stuck in your eye, do not try to remove it, touch it, or apply pressure. Bandage the eye or place something over the eye to prevent eye movement, and seek immediate medical attention.
In the event of an eye emergency, contact us as soon as possible. If we are unavailable or our clinic is closed, please call 911 or head to your nearest emergency room.
You can find us on the corner of Bridge Street and Victoria Drive.
Call, email, or use our online form to request an appointment today!
We can be found on the main level of the Valley Crossroads Health & Wellness Building, 21 Roy Ave. New Minas.
Call, email, or use our online form to request an appointment today!
We are a locally-owned, independent practice that truly cares about finding you a product that helps you see and feel better. We source from an extensive list of suppliers to ensure you have a variety of quality products to choose from.
We offer designer and functional eyewear for every budget, prescription and non-prescription sunglasses, common and specialty contact lenses, dry eye therapy products, and protective safety eyewear. We also have an on-site lab, allowing us to shorten the turnaround time for most eyeglasses.
Kingston
New Minas
