Emergency Eye Care in Cincinnati

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.

Stay calm. Staying calm helps you think clearly and keeps others at ease.

Second, never try to judge the severity of an eye injury on your own. Contact your eye care clinic for guidance on what to do. At Oakley Square Eye Associates in Cincinnati, we understand ocular emergencies and are here for you at any time.

It’s not always necessary to go to an emergency room for eye emergencies. Studies show that an optometrist could treat most patients seen in emergency rooms for eye issues.

Use your judgment. If you need emergency care, go to the nearest emergency room without delay.

An eye emergency is anything that puts your eyes or vision at risk of permanent damage.

The most common types of eye emergencies include:

• Eye infection
• Foreign object stuck in the eye
• Eye trauma
• Scratch on the eye
• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• Lost contact lens in the eye
• Shattered eyeglass lenses
• Sudden appearance of light flashes or floaters

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 see your Cincinnati eye doctor as soon as possible for a diagnosis and treatment.

• Sudden loss of vision
• Sudden double vision
• Sudden eye pain
• New onset of light flashes and/or floaters
• Foreign body in the eye
• Chemicals in the eye
• Swelling or pain after eye surgery

A foreign body can be anything from an eyelash or a speck of sand to a metal shard, a blade of grass, or a 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.

The eyes are delicate, and improper removal can cause serious complications. Seek urgent care if you cannot flush the object out with water or saline.

If a foreign body penetrates your eye or you notice blood or discharge, contact your eye doctor immediately. After describing what happened, your doctor may send you to an emergency room.

Contact Oakley Square Eye Associates in Cincinnati for an emergency eye care appointment. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms constitute an emergency, call us. Delaying treatment can increase the risk of serious complications and vision loss.

Until you see your optometrist or seek 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

Call our office in Cincinnati for further instructions. We’re here for you.