7 Common Eye Emergencies: Symptoms & Prevention
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prepare for any emergency. However; when faced with eye emergencies you should seek prompt eye care near you as soon as possible. Eye emergencies that are dealt with promptly and properly can prevent severe and irreversible consequences to your eye vision and health.
It is helpful to be able to recognize the symptoms of eye emergencies and how to seek prompt treatment for excellent recovery. Highlighted below are common eye emergency symptoms and invaluable tips on how to prevent them.
Symptoms of Eye Emergencies
Contact our emergency eye doctor in North York if you have any foreign material in your eyes or have the following symptoms:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Different pupils sizes
- Burning, redness, or stinging in the eye
- Dull eye ache
- One eye bulging out
- Sudden onset of double vision
- Decreased vision
- Bruising around the eye
- Bleeding from the eye
- Blood in the white part of the eye
- Severe eye irritation or discharge
- New or severe headaches
Common Types of Eye Emergencies
While there are numerous eye emergencies, some are more common than others. Below are the most common eye emergencies:
Injuries to The Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye. Injuries and infections to the cornea can lead to serious visual impairments and therefore require immediate treatment.
Foreign Objects in the Eye
It’s common for small flying insects and other small objects like sand to get stuck in the eyes. You can rinse your eyes to remove foreign objects. If the objects won’t come out and it’s causing severe symptoms, you should seek emergency treatment to remove them and prevent further damage to the eye.
Chemicals Burns
If toxic substances get in your eyes, you will likely experience irritation, burning, or pain. In worse cases, the chemicals can affect your vision and cause irreversible consequences. Therefore, this kind of injury requires urgent medical care. In the meantime, try to flush out the eyes using clean water.
Bleeding From the Eye
Injuries to the eye can cause your eyes to bleed. Bleeding from the eye is a serious issue, and you should visit an emergency optometrist near you immediately before the damage causes irreversible damage.
Sudden Vision Loss
Sudden vision loss should prompt you to see an eye doctor, whether partial or complete. Vision loss can occur due to eye injuries, acute glaucoma, detached retina, hemorrhage bleeding in the eye, stroke, optic nerve problems, inflammation of specific eye structures, and blockage of an artery or vein that supplies blood to the eye.
Severe Cuts and Scratches
Cuts and scratches to the eyelid or eyeball require urgent medical care. It can lead to partial or permanent vision loss if not addressed in time.
Sustaining a Black Eye
You may have a black eye if something has hit your eye or the areas surrounding it. It causes bleeding under the skin, making your eye become blackish/blue and then purple, green, or yellow in the next few days. A black eye is commonly accompanied by swelling. Immediate treatment is essential to address the issue.
How to Prevent Eye Emergencies
The best thing you can do to your eyes is to protect them from injuries or infections. Use these tips to reduce the risk of eye emergencies and maintain healthy eyes:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using abrasive chemicals or cleaning supplies.
- Wear protective eyewear like glasses and goggles during high-impact physical events or when using power tools.
- Keep scissors, knives, and other sharp objects from your eyes. Keep them away from children.
- Keep heated hair dryers and curling irons away from your eyes.
- Keep distance from amateur fireworks.
- Wash your hands regularly, especially after working with chemical substances.
- Open bottles of sprays, chemicals, and champagne carefully.
- Avoid harmful activities like playing with fireworks.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Are you looking for an emergency eye clinic in North York? Contact Yorkdale Eyecare to book an appointment with our emergency eye doctor.