One of the most important things you can do after suffering even a minor eye injury is visit us for an exam. For urgent care that doesn’t require a emergency room visit, we provide after-hours care and can be reached through our main line. Some common eye injuries are:
Detached retina
Seeing spots, floaters or flashes of light that come on quickly are symptoms of a detached retina, a very serious condition that requires prompt attention to prevent or reduce its impact on a person’s vision. Other signs of a detached retina include blurred or poor vision, or seeing what’s described as a shadow or veil in your peripheral vision.
Treatment for a detached retina involves surgery. At Northcenter Eye Care, we can diagnose and refer, as well as provide follow-up care. It’s important to have a comprehensive eye exam each year, especially if you are at risk for detachment. People with certain diseases (like diabetes), those who have high levels of nearsightedness or those who have undergone cataract surgery are at greater risk for this condition.
Corneal abrasion
This type of injury can range in severity, but it is a good idea to see us if you are experiencing discomfort from a scratch or poke to the eye. Common symptoms include pain, redness and severe sensitivity to light. Though the cornea is known to heal quickly, corneal abrasions can make your eye susceptible to infections from bacteria or fungi, which can be quite serious.
Chemical burns
Chemical burns can result from being splashed in the eye, transferring a chemical to your eye from your hands or being sprayed in the eye. In most cases, your first step is to wash your eye by putting your head under a steady stream of water for 15 minutes. Make sure to contact you eye doctor or emergency center for further instructions.
If your eye is particularly red or blurry, you may need to see us immediately or make a trip to the emergency room.
Eye swelling and bruising
If the area around the eye has been injured and is swollen from trauma such as a baseball thrown at high speed, it’s important to see us so that we can examine the area for internal injury.