It can be pretty scary to find yourself in an emergency. However, preparing beforehand can help you manage stressful situations. Being unprepared when sudden, harmful events occur or being in the wrong place at the wrong time is usually all it takes to find yourself in an emergency. 

Eye Emergencies 

An accident can happen in the blink of an eye. Knowing what to do in case of an eye emergency can save you time and possibly your vision. Eye injuries come in various forms. It is not always easy to recognize an eye emergency. According to eye care professionals, eye emergencies include objects in the eye, scratches, cuts, burns, blunt injuries, and chemical exposure to the eye or eyelid. 

Some eye conditions and infections may require immediate medical care. Since the eye is vulnerable to severe damage, these eye emergencies can cause partial or permanent vision loss if left untreated. Quick action is critical to a positive outcome in an eye emergency. Staying cool-headed and taking the appropriate measures might save your eyesight. Some of the essential steps include the following:

Recognize an Eye Emergency

Everyone experiences eye discomfort occasionally. However, it is not always easy to determine when an eye or vision problem constitutes a medical emergency. Recognizing an emergency is the first step to protecting your eyes and sight. Symptoms that could indicate an emergency requiring immediate medical care include the following:

• Severe eye pain

• Blood in the whites of the eye

• Excessively watery eyes

• Swelling and bruising around the eyes

• Bleeding from the eyes

• Eye pressure

• Pain with eye movement

• Sudden vision loss

• Floaters

• Flashes of light

• Double vision

• Sudden change in vision

Practice Proper First Aid

If you experience any of these symptoms, knowing what to do can preserve your vision and eye health. 

• Chemical Burns and Tiny Foreign Objects 

If you have tiny foreign objects or chemical burns irritating your eyes, try flushing them out with water or a sterile saline solution for several minutes. If you wear contact lenses, remove them first before flushing your eyes. 

• Cuts, Punctures, and Larger Foreign Objects

Do not attempt to flush injuries or large foreign objects that puncture or cut your eye or eyelid. Instead, cover the injured eye with a shield and seek immediate medical care. Contact your eye doctor or rush to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. 

• Blow to the Eye

Apply a cold compress to the injured eye and seek medical care as soon as possible. That is especially important in cases of blurry vision, pain, blood inside the eye, one eye sticking out more than the other, or discoloration.

Seek Emergency Treatment

Do not wait to seek treatment when you or a loved one suffers a severe eye injury. Emergency rooms can handle most common eye injuries. Getting emergency care could save your eyesight and eyes.

Eye accidents can happen very quickly. You should stay well-informed and have a plan should the unexpected happen. It would also help to consult your eye doctor on issues or questions relating to your eyes.

For more on eye emergencies, visit Eyes of Starwood at our Frisco, Texas, office. Call (972) 544-4300 to schedule an appointment today.