Emergency Eye Care

Doctors Available 24/7 for Emergency Eye Care

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When eye emergencies occur, count on MOA’s specially trained doctors and full suite of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to provide the care and relief you need, right when you need it.

Our Eye Health Centers have doctors on call 24/7 for your emergency eye care needs.

Don’t hesitate to contact us when the unexpected occurs – from eye injuries and pink eye/conjunctivitis to eye pain, vision loss or flashes and floaters. MOA has you covered. Think of us as ‘urgent care for your eyes.’

What is an eye emergency?

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There are many eye conditions and diseases you can develop, but what constitutes an emergency?

Paragraph: An eye emergency is the sudden appearance of symptoms or visible trauma that can affect your vision. Emergencies require immediate care; many conditions can significantly affect your vision if left untreated.

Most Common Eye Emergencies

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Chemical Contact

Your eyes are made of very delicate tissues. As a result, any chemical contact could cause significant damage to your eyes. Even a spill from household cleaning products could be harmful to your vision and long term eye health.

If your eyes do come into contact with chemicals, you must flush them right away with cool, clean water for at least 15 minutes. Your eyes may start to feel better after a moment; however, you need to flush them for the full 15 minutes to ensure you have washed out as much chemical residue as possible.

Once you have finished flushing out your eye, contact your nearest Medical Optometry America Eye Health Center for help.

Signs You May Need Emergency Eye Care

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Sudden changes to your vision
  • Floaters in your eyes
  • Red, irritated eyes or pink eye
  • Flashes of light
  • Stringy, sticky, or yellowish discharge
  • Pain or excessive itching
  • Swelling

Foreign Object in the Eye

Conditions like dry eyes or stys can make it feel like there is something in your eye that should not be there. This sensation can sometimes just be a symptom of another issue. However, from time to time, small objects like eyelashes or flecks of makeup can make their way into the eye or under your eyelids and can stick to the ocular surface.

If something is stuck in your eye, do not attempt to remove it with tweezers or any other sort of tool. It is also vital that you do not rub your eye. Rubbing could scratch and damage your eye tissue and could embed the object into your eyeball.

Try flushing the object out of your eye with cool, clean water. If the object is still stuck, contact an Medical Optometry America optometrist for help as soon as possible. This is especially true for metallic objects that can quickly rust in your eye, as well as objects of plant based origin which can lead to fungal infections.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, can occur for a variety of reasons, and the severity of your symptoms can range depending on the cause.

If you are experiencing conjunctivitis due to allergies, the first thing you should do is either remove the irritant or attempt to avoid it. Using artificial tears or cold compresses can also help reduce your symptoms, but if they are serious or persistent you should contact a Medical Optometry America optometrist.

If you are experiencing conjunctivitis as the result of bacterial or viral infection, get in touch with your Medical Optometry America optometrist. Depending on the root cause, you may need to be prescribed antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications.

If you experience any conjunctivitis symptoms, please limit your contact with others as some forms are extremely contagious. Refrain from rubbing your eyes or coming in contact with people. In any case, the best course of action is to reach out to your Medical Optometry America optometrist for effective relief strategies.

Flashes & Floaters

While you might experience the odd flash or floater in your vision from time to time, seeing them with increased regularity or persistence can signal an eye care emergency.

Large clusters of flashes or floaters can signify a torn or detached retina, which will cause permanent damage to your vision. If you start to consistently see flashes or floaters, contact your Medical Optometry America optometrist immediately.

Signs You May Need Emergency Eye Care:

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You can never expect an emergency, but you can learn the common signs you may need a timely visit to your optometrist. There are several symptoms related to eye emergencies, and you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Sudden changes in vision
  • An abrupt increase in floaters
  • Flashes of light
  • Stringy, sticky, or yellow-looking discharge
  • Sudden onset of redness
  • Light sensitivity
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Excessive itching
  • Eye injury
  • Swelling

Understanding the symptoms of an eye emergency can help protect your vision.