Emergency Eye Care | Cary, NC | Cary Family Eye Care

Prompt Care in the Event of an Eye Emergency

For any eye emergency, quick action is vital. Knowing the necessary first aid and seeking prompt medical attention can significantly reduce the risk of serious complications.

In the event of an eye emergency, we will make every effort to see you as soon as possible to assess your situation and recommend the next steps. If the emergency happens outside of our regular business hours, please go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care center.

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What Is Considered an Eye Emergency?

Any injury to your face or eye area, sudden vision changes, or eye infections may constitute an eye emergency. Common eye emergencies we can treat include:

Scratches to the eye (corneal abrasions)
Blunt force trauma to the eye area (like a blow to the head)
Foreign objects stuck in the eye
Chemical splashes or burns
Infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Sudden-onset complications of eye diseases

Symptoms of an Eye Emergency

Not every eye emergency occurs after an injury. In some cases, the symptoms may be more subtle or the cause may be unknown. Regardless of the cause, it is important to visit a medical professional for an assessment if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Ongoing, severe pain in the eye
Vision changes, such as blurred vision, trouble seeing, or an increase in floaters that occurs suddenly
A sudden headache, especially if accompanied by eye pain or vision changes
Blood in the cornea
Pupils vary in size or shape
Eyes stop moving well together
One eye sticks out of the eye socket farther than the other

What to Do in the Case of an Eye Emergency

As with any emergency, quick action is important. You can reduce the risk of serious complications by knowing the necessary first aid steps, acting quickly, and seeking prompt medical attention.

In the case of an eye emergency:

Clean your hands before touching your eye.
Do not rub or apply pressure to an injured eye. Cover the eye lightly to reduce blinking and movement while seeking medical care.
Never use tweezers or tools near the affected eye. If there is a foreign body stuck in your eye, seek the care of a medical professional to remove it safely.
Do not remove contact lenses (except in the case of a chemical splash).
If chemicals come into contact with your eyes, flush with cold water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses with clean hands before flushing the eye, and seek medical attention.

We’ll work to see you as soon as possible in the case of an eye emergency. We can also provide guidance on how to handle your situation. If the emergency occurs outside of our business hours, please proceed to your nearest emergency room or urgent care center.

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