Emergency Eye Care | Vancouver Block Optometrists

Eye Care When You Need It Most

If you or a loved one are experiencing an eye emergency, call us as soon as possible. We make space in our schedule for our patients who need urgent attention.

An eye emergency can involve any injury, disease, or situation that puts your vision and eye health in jeopardy. These situations can be stressful and scary, but you can trust the team at Vancouver Block Optometrists to care for you or your loved ones when you need help most.

We even offer telehealth consultations for urgent and emergent eye problems so you can be seen as soon as possible.

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Eye Emergency Symptoms

It’s not always apparent when you need emergency eye care. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call us immediately:

Loss of vision
Blurred or changed vision
Double vision
Burning or stinging in the eyes
Pupils of different sizes
One eye is not moving like the other
One eye sticking out or bulging
Severe eye pain
Eye redness and irritation
Sensitivity to light
Bruising around the eye
Bleeding from the eye
Blood in the whites of the eye
Discharge from the eye
Severe itching
New or severe headaches

Common Eye Emergencies

If you or a loved one has sustained even a minor eye injury, please call us immediately. We’re always available to help.

Although not all eye injuries need emergency care, even seemingly minor injuries can cause damage to the delicate tissue in and around your eye. In these cases, it’s essential to see an eye care professional so they can assess your eye health and provide treatment if needed.

Chemical Injuries

You can sustain a chemical burn when a chemical enters your eyes. Some substances can cause only minor irritation, but all burns should be taken seriously. If a chemical has entered your eye, flush the affected area with cool, clean water for at least 15 minutes.

Some acids that can cause burns include:

Bleach
Vinegar
Nail polish remover
Batteries
Glass polish

Alkalis also cause more serious and extreme eye injuries and include:

Fertilizer
Cleaning products with ammonia
Drain cleaners
Oven cleaners
Plaster and cement

Foreign Objects

Small foreign objects such as hair or dirt commonly enter the eyes. These objects don’t always cause injury and are often easily flushed by the eye’s natural protective mechanisms, but you may need to help it out by flushing your eyes with cool, clean water or saline. Small foreign objects can also sometimes scratch the cornea and become infected.

Larger and sharper foreign objects, like glass or metal, can cause significantly more damage and can even become embedded in the eye. Embedded objects require a medical professional to remove, so do not attempt to remove these yourself. Cover your injured eye with something that doesn’t rest directly on your eye and then call us or visit the emergency room.

Blunt Trauma

Blunt trauma occurs when you’ve sustained a blow to the head, neck, or face. These injuries can cause various injuries that range in severity, from a black eye to globe rupture. No matter how minor your injury seems, you should see a medical professional immediately to evaluate it.

Eye Disease

Some eye diseases progress rapidly, presenting an immediate threat to your eye health. These diseases often come with sudden and severe symptoms, so please contact us immediately if you experience any of the following issues.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma symptoms:

Sudden and severe eye pain
Blurred vision
Halos
Red, tender, hard eye
Nausea and vomiting

Visual distortions
Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
Decreased intensity or brightness of colours
A well-defined blurry spot or a blind spot in your field of vision
A general haziness

Protect Your Vision with Compassionate, Timely Care

If you or a loved one experience signs of an emergency or have sustained an eye injury, please call us immediately. If your situation occurs outside our office hours, please visit urgent care or your closest emergency room.

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