Providing Urgent Eye Care Services
Eye emergencies happen when you least expect them, so knowing what to do if you or a loved one needs urgent eye care is vital.
First things first. Don’t panic! Staying calm will not only help you think straight, it will also help those around you to remain calm.
Second, never try to judge the severity of an eye injury on your own. Instead, contact our office for instructions on what you should do in your situation. At Bright Side Eye Care in Houston, we understand ocular emergencies and are here for you at any time.
It’s not always necessary to go to an emergency room or an urgent care clinic for eye emergencies. Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of people who sought urgent eye care at an emergency room could have been treated by an optometrist.
That being said, use your own judgment. If you think you need to head to the nearest emergency room, don’t delay.
The most common types of urgent eye conditions include:
- Eye infection
- Sudden redness or irritation
- Foreign body in the eye
- Scratch on the eye or lid
- Lost contact lens in the eye
- Shattered eyeglass lenses
What to Do if Something Gets Into Your Eye?
A foreign body can be anything from an eyelash or a speck of sand to a metal shard, blade of grass or piece of wood. No matter what the object is, it’s critical to have it removed quickly to reduce your risk of serious injury or infection.
Keep in mind that the eyes are extremely delicate and if you don’t know how to safely remove the foreign body, you can end up with sight-threatening complications. It’s therefore always best to seek urgent eye care if you can’t flush out the foreign body with water or saline solution.
If you think a foreign body has penetrated your eye, or you notice any blood or discharge coming from your eye, call our office immediately for consultation.
What is an Eye Emergency?
- Sudden loss of vision
- Sudden double vision
- Severe eye pain
- New onset of light flashes and/or floaters
- Eye trauma
- Chemicals in the eye
- Swelling or pain after eye surgery
Is an Eye Infection an Emergency?
While an eye infection like conjunctivitis (pink eye) usually doesn’t require emergency eye care, if you think you have an eye infection, it’s important to call our office as soon as possible for a a consultation appointment.
What To Do If You Have an Eye Emergency?
Contact our office for an urgent eye care appointment. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms constitute an emergency, call us anyway — delaying treatment can put you at risk of serious complications that can result in vision loss.
Until you see Dr. Iranpour for urgent care:
- Don’t press on or rub an injured eye
- Don’t attempt to remove a foreign body on your own
- Don’t use dry cotton (including cotton swabs) or sharp instruments (such as tweezers) on the eye
- Don’t attempt to remove an embedded object
Eye Safety – Safety Eyewear – Eye Injury Prevention
This short video stresses the importance of knowing the hazards at home and the workplace regarding your eyes. In this video, we review a few actual incidents where people lost part or all of their vision, along with one whose vision was saved by safety eyewear.
Call our office for further instructions. We’re here to assist you!
Note: Saturday By Appointment Only