Key Takeaways
- Sudden vision changes, eye pain, and eye injury all call for same-day attention.
- New flashes of light or floaters are also a potential emergency.
- Kids may show vision trouble through rubbing, squinting, or light sensitivity.
- Many eye emergencies can be handled at an eye clinic instead of a hospital.
- Serious head trauma belongs at the emergency room.
- Bring your glasses, sunglasses, medication list, and a ride home.
Why Quick Care Matters for Your Eyes
You’re chopping onions, sanding a deck, or rounding a corner at the park when something goes wrong. A splash, a poke, a sudden shadow across your view. Your stomach drops, and you’re left wondering whether you can wait until morning.
You should see an eye doctor at Queensway Optometric Centre the same day if you experience sudden vision loss, eye pain, an eye injury, a chemical splash, or new flashes and floaters. Quick care helps protect your sight.
What Counts As an Eye Emergency
An eye emergency is any sudden change in how you see or how your eye feels. This includes sudden injuries such as a basketball to the face, as well as issues that develop over time. Injuries, infections, and chemical splashes all belong in this latter group, as does anything involving your vision fading, doubling, or going dark.
Waiting for an emergency to resolve can make the problem worse. On the other hand, prompt action gives your eye doctor more options for protecting your vision.
Red Flag Symptoms to Watch For
Some signs deserve a phone call right away, even if the discomfort feels mild. These include:
- Sudden vision loss in one or both eyes
- Double vision that shows up out of nowhere
- New flashes of light or a rush of floaters
- A red, painful, or swollen eye
Signs of a Problem After Surgery
If you experience sudden pain or swelling around the eye, or if your discomfort following eye surgery increases, that’s your cue to call your optometrist.
Signs of a Problem in Kids and Teens
Light sensitivity, constant watering, and discharge crusting on the lashes are all signs that your child might benefit from a visit to their optometrist. Younger children often don’t complain about their vision, so make sure to pay attention to their behaviour.
Common Eye Emergencies an Optometrist in Mississauga Can Treat
Plenty of urgent eye problems can be handled by an eye clinic rather than a waiting room. Pink eye and other infections are near the top of this list, along with foreign objects stuck in the eye.
Scratches, burns, and eye trauma also fall within what an optometrist in Mississauga can assess and manage.
Foreign Objects in the Eye
Dust, sawdust, sand, and metal shavings can all find their way past your eyelashes. If this happens, you may experience irritation, sudden tearing, and/or a gritty sensation like sandpaper when you blink.
If something does get in your eye, it’s important to keep your hands away from your face. Rubbing or pressing the eye can turn a small scratch into a bigger one. Don’t try to remove the object at home. Instead, leave it where it is and let your eye doctor take it from there.
Eye Doctor or Emergency Room: How to Decide
Many eye issues, from infections to scratches to foreign objects, can be handled right at our eye clinic. You’ll often be seen faster, and by someone who spends their whole day looking at eyes.
Serious head trauma is different, however. If you’ve suffered a major blow to the head, loss of consciousness, or a deep wound, you should head to the nearest hospital.
If you’re unsure where to go, call ahead. A quick conversation can point you in the right direction.
Your Optometrist Can Often Help
Our team at Queensway Optometric Centre in Mississauga is here to help you protect your vision. If you’re experiencing an eye emergency, don’t hesitate to contact us right away.
