Emergency
Eye Care
Emergency Eye Care in Austin, Texas
We provide emergency eye care services to help preserve your eyesight and relieve any discomfort.
Eye emergencies require quick treatment to avoid the risk of permanent damage or vision loss. If you are currently experiencing an eye emergency, please call us immediately for an emergency eye examination. If it is after hours, please contact us by phone or text us at 512-924-9160.
Although some ocular emergencies require visiting the emergency room, in most cases an optometrist is better prepared to handle the situation, including eye infections and foreign objects in the eye.
Signs and symptoms that urgent eye care is needed include the following:
- Pain in the eyes
- New flashes of light or floaters in the vision
- One eye isn’t moving like the other eye
- Decreased vision or double vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Blood on the white part of the eye
- Eye discharge
- Unusual pupil size or shape
- Severe itching sensation in the eye
- New or severe headaches
Contact us immediately if you notice an increase in eye floaters, see flashes of light, or notice a dark curtain on the side of your vision, as these are all symptoms of a retinal detachment.
Steps to take during an eye emergency
When dealing with an eye emergency, follow these steps to avoid making it worse:
- If chemicals get into your eyes, flush your eyes with water for 10-15 minutes and don’t cover the affected eye.
- If you have something in your eyes, avoid rubbing them to prevent further damage and reduce the spread of any germs, bacteria, or infections.
- Individuals who have suffered an eye injury should avoid touching or rubbing their eye and should not try to remove any object from the eye. In cases of a visible cut or object in the eye, the patient should rest a paper cup or other protective shield over— but not touching—the eye. This person should seek medical help immediately.
- Avoid driving if you are experiencing an eye emergency or vision problems.
Treatment for eye emergencies will vary depending on the specific case, but most issues resolve quickly when properly treated by a qualified optometrist. If you’re experiencing an eye emergency in the greater Austin area, get in touch with our eye specialists immediately.