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Emergency Eye Care

An optometrist or ophthalmologist should examine your eye if you have…

If you’re not sure, call our eye care Practice.

Emergency Eye Care

You might need to see an eye doctor or go to the ER for…

  • Chemical exposures: Sometimes, even after you have rinsed the eye, you may not be sure if all the material has been removed, or if damage occurred beforehand. Some substances cause more damage than others. For example, soap and sunscreen can be uncomfortable, but they don’t usually cause long term eye injury. If unsure, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
  • Subconjunctival hemorrhage: The transparent covering over the whites of the eyes has fragile blood vessels which can bleed easily, from rigorous sneezing, throwing up, or as a side effect to blood thinners. It is not an emergency, but if you are concerned, come see your Lancaster, OH eye doctor.
  • Hyphema: On the other hand, hyphema, a trauma that results in bruising to the cornea, which sometimes comes with a black eye, can be very serious. Get it checked out as soon as possible.
  • Foreign body: Something got stuck in the eye, and it won’t come out with gentle washing. Better see an eye doctor.
  • Solar retinopathy: Prolonged sun exposure could damage the retina. You will probably need to be examined by an eye care specialist, as an emergency room physician cannot do much to help your in this case.

You need immediate medical attention for an eye emergency if…

  • Lacerations: A cut that goes through the eyeball or an eyelid cut that slices through the eyelid margin where the eyelashes grow needs prompt care from a medical professional.
  • Caustic chemical exposures: Keep track of the substance that got into the eye, because if it’s known to be caustic, you need to go to an emergency department or eye doctor, even if you don’t experience symptoms. Contact with a substance that is a strong acids or a strong base is the most severe.

Emergency Eye Care