Urgent Eye Care
If you need urgent eye care for an issue like pink eye, blood in the white of the eye, a foreign object or chemicals in the eye, eye pain, sudden loss of vision, a dilated pupil, or flashes or floaters, we will make every effort to schedule you the same day. Use your best judgment, as some eye injuries may warrant a trip to the emergency room. If you have an eye-related emergency during non-business hours or days our office is closed, please call Woolfson Eye Institute at (770) 804-1684 or (866) 527-3722.
What are the Signs of an Eye Emergency?
The American Optometric Association recommends seeking medical attention if you experience:
- Burning or stinging eyes
- One eye not moving like the other
- Decreased vision or double vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Bruising and/or bleeding around the eye
- Blood in the white of your eye
- Discharge from your eye
- Severe itching sensation in your eye
- New or severe headaches
Eye Emergencies
The following conditions are considered eye emergencies for which you need emergency eye care services. If you experience these conditions, please contact us immediately for care.
A red eye
If you are experiencing a red eye with discharge, you need emergency eye care. Pink eye, otherwise known as conjunctivitis, is viral and contagious and it’s important to treat this condition promptly. Pink eye is not the only condition that causes redness with discharge, so it’s critical to have an optometrist look for the other symptoms of a red eye that might be sight-threatening.
Foreign body
A foreign body in the eye is when you get something stuck in your eye such as sand, an eyelash, or dirt. You will feel irritation or even pain when you get something stuck in your eye, depending on what the item is. If the irritation is relatively minor, give us a call so that we can safely remove the foreign body. Don’t attempt to remove the item yourself for very long, as the eyes are delicate. If the foreign body can pierce or severely damage the eye, go to the emergency room.
A sudden change in vision, flashers, and floaters
A sudden vision change may indicate a retinal or corneal defect that can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. One such defect is retinal detachment. If you’re seeing flashing lights and spots and/or a shower of floating spots from within the eye, you may have a detached retina. Other serious conditions may also cause a sudden change in vision and warrant emergency eye care.
Dr. Mehdi Kazem at Lawrenceville Family Eyecare is qualified to provide urgent eye care. If you are experiencing an eye emergency such as pink eye or infection, a foreign body in the eye, or are experiencing a sudden change in vision, flashes, or floaters, please call 678-993-2020 to schedule an appointment.