Emergency Eye Care | OPT Optometric

Be Prepared for an Eye Emergency

An eye emergency is any incident that exposes your eyes or vision to immediate damage. These can happen anywhere, at any time, to anyone. Knowing what to do in an eye emergency can help you stay calm and collected.

Acting quickly may help save your sight. Stay prepared with our helpful tips and seek optometric attention—if your eyesight is on the line, we’re here to help.

Types of Eye Emergency

Chemical Burns or Splashes

Getting anything in your eye is an uncomfortable and downright scary experience. In the event of chemical exposure:

Clean your hands to remove any traces of the chemical
Flush the eye with cool, running water for 15 minutes
Take note of the chemical you were exposed to so medical staff can treat you most effectively

Seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

Trauma to the Eye or Head

A knock to the head or the face can have serious consequences for your vision. Trauma to the eye area could result in a black eye, a concussion, or a detached retina.

If you’ve been hit in the head or face, gently place a cold compress on the area. Don’t apply pressure. Contact your optometrist to have your eyes checked if you notice symptoms like:

Headaches
Visual disturbances
Eye pain
Flashes & floaters

Scratches or Abrasions

Scratching the eye’s surface can leave you with the feeling there’s something stuck in your eye. It can cause eye pain and redness. If you think you’ve scratched your eye, clean your hands thoroughly, flush the eye with clean water, and be sure not to touch, rub, or apply pressure to the eye.

Visit your optometrist to have the affected eye examined. You may be prescribed drops or ointment to manage the injury.

Foreign Objects in the Eye

Small foreign objects in the eye, like sand, debris, or makeup, can cause scratches and irritation. Don’t rub or apply pressure to your eye. Flush your eyes with cool, clean water and call us for your next steps.

Large foreign objects can puncture or lodge in the eye. Seek medical assistance immediately. DO NOT try to remove the object yourself. Cover the affected eye loosely with a clean cloth or a cup and try not to move the eye.

Acute Closed-Angle Glaucoma

Unlike other glaucomas that can develop slowly over time, acute closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency where the pressure inside the eye rises quickly. Watch for symptoms like:

Severe headache
Eye pain
Nausea & vomiting
Halos
Sudden eye redness
Blurry vision

In the event of an acute closed-angle glaucoma attack, seek medical help immediately.

In Case of Emergency

It can be challenging to determine what makes an eye issue an emergency, but it’s always better to play it safe when it comes to your vision.

If you’re experiencing eye discomfort, visual anomalies, or pain, call us at 415-814-2564 so we can help you determine the right course of action.

If you have an obvious eye emergency after hours, do not wait. Call 911 or head to the emergency room. Acting quickly could save your sight.

Our Location

We are proudly located in the Mission district.

A bike lock station is located in front of our office. We are a short walk from the 24th Street/Mission BART Station, or metered street parking is available.

To ensure the best one on one experience we are currently scheduling appointments for all in office visits.