Eye emergencies can happen at any time, to anyone. Even if you are cautious and take all the preventative measures, accidents can happen. It’s always important to know what to do in the case of an emergency, just in case you or someone you know finds yourself involved in one.
Eye emergencies typically correlate to injuries to the eye, face, head, or neck. Anything that can negatively affect your ocular health or vision should be addressed as quickly as possible to minimize the risk of permanent damage or vision loss.
At Calgary Family Eye Doctors, we leave room in our schedule to accommodate emergencies. If you are experiencing an eye emergency, please call us as soon as possible.
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Eye emergencies consist of an injury or trauma to the eyes. This may involve a foreign object in the eye, chemicals, burns, or blunt force trauma.If you are experiencing swelling, redness, or any sort of pain in your eyes, please call us or head to your nearest emergency room.
If you get something small in your eye, like dust or dirt, it can cause significant irritation and even permanent damage. If this happens, try to blink repeatedly to remove it. If it does not come out, gently hold your eyelids open and try to locate it in a mirror. Remember to always thoroughly wash your hands before touching your eyes or face.
Artificial tears can help you remove a small object that has gotten stuck in your eye. If not, try rinsing your eye with clean, cool water. If nothing is working to remove the object, please call us as soon as possible.
If something large has gotten embedded in your eye, do not try to remove it. This is a serious eye emergency that should be dealt with by medical professionals.
Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Do your best not to move your eye and do not touch the area or apply pressure. If necessary, place a clean piece of cloth over your eyes to prevent them from moving.
Cleaning products, industrial chemicals, and garden chemicals can all be damaging to your skin and eyes. Fumes and aerosols can also cause chemical burns if they get into your eyes.
If you have gotten a chemical in your eye, you should try to rinse it out as soon as possible. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands before touching your face or eyes.
Gently hold your eyes open with your fingers, tilt your head to the side, and rinse your eye with clean, fresh water from your faucet. You can also stand in the shower to rinse your eyes.
If you are wearing contact lenses and they remain in your eyes after rinsing them, remove them. Then, call us immediately or head to your nearest emergency room. If possible, continue to flush your eyes while waiting for medical attention.
If you experience any symptoms of an eye emergency, please call us immediately or go to your nearest emergency room. The quicker you can access medical attention, the lower your risk of sustaining permanent damage and vision loss.
Common symptoms of an eye emergency include:
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