Emergency Eye Care Information
Recognising Eye Emergencies
Certain eye symptoms may require urgent ophthalmic assessment. The information below outlines common eye emergencies, warning signs to be aware of, and the action that should be taken if these symptoms occur.
Common Eye Emergencies and Immediate Care
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries caused by impact, sharp objects, metal fragments, glass, sports injuries, or workplace accidents may result in serious damage to the eye and vision.
What To Do
• Do not rub the eye.
• Do not apply pressure to the eye.
• Do not attempt to remove embedded objects.
• Avoid using eye drops unless specifically advised by a healthcare professional.
• If available, loosely shield the eye without applying pressure.
• Seek urgent ophthalmic or emergency medical assessment.
Chemical Exposure
Chemical exposure from household cleaners, industrial chemicals, solvents, alkalis, acids, or other substances can cause severe injury to the surface of the eye and may threaten vision.
What To Do
• Begin immediate irrigation with clean water.
• Continue irrigation while arranging urgent medical assessment.
• Remove contact lenses if easily possible.
• Seek immediate ophthalmic or emergency medical attention.
Sudden Vision Changes
Sudden blurred vision, sudden loss of vision, new double vision, visual field loss, or a rapid change in vision may indicate a serious eye or neurological condition requiring urgent assessment.
What To Do
• Do not delay seeking medical attention.
• Arrange urgent ophthalmic assessment.
• Seek emergency medical attention if vision loss is severe, rapidly worsening, or associated with other neurological symptoms.
• Avoid driving until assessed if vision is significantly affected.
Severe Eye Pain or Redness
Severe eye pain, significant redness, sensitivity to light, reduced vision, or redness occurring after injury, surgery, or contact lens wear may indicate a serious eye condition requiring urgent assessment.
What To Do
• Do not rub the affected eye.
• Avoid wearing contact lenses until assessed.
• Do not use leftover prescription eye drops unless specifically advised by a healthcare professional.
• Avoid driving if vision is significantly affected.
• Seek urgent ophthalmic or emergency medical assessment.
• Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms are rapidly worsening or associated with vision loss.Foreign Object in the Eye
A foreign body in the eye may cause discomfort, pain, tearing, redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision, or the sensation that something is stuck in the eye.
What To Do
• Avoid rubbing the eye.
• Do not attempt to remove embedded objects.
• If the object is loose, gentle irrigation with clean water may help remove it.
• Avoid using tools, cotton buds, or fingers to remove foreign material.
• Avoid wearing contact lenses until assessed.
• Seek ophthalmic assessment if symptoms persist, vision is affected, or an embedded foreign body is suspected.
Flashes and Floaters
New flashes of light, a sudden increase in floaters, a shadow or curtain across vision, or any associated reduction in vision may indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment requiring urgent assessment.
What To Do
• Arrange urgent ophthalmic assessment.
• Seek immediate medical attention if there is vision loss or a shadow across your field of vision.
• Monitor for any worsening of symptoms while awaiting assessment.
• Avoid delaying assessment, even if symptoms appear to improve.
• Inform your eye care professional if you have a history of retinal tears, retinal detachment, high myopia, or recent eye surgery.
• Seek emergency medical assessment if you are unable to obtain prompt ophthalmic review.
Important emergency information
Eye Doctor Clinics provides scheduled outpatient ophthalmology consultations and is not a hospital emergency department. We do not provide a 24-hour emergency ophthalmology service.
If you experience sudden loss of vision, severe eye pain, significant eye injury, chemical injury, a rapidly worsening eye condition, or any other condition requiring immediate medical assessment, you should seek urgent medical attention through the appropriate hospital emergency service.
Eye emergencies are managed through hospital emergency departments and their associated clinical triage services. The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) provides emergency ophthalmology assessment through its Emergency Department and clinical triage pathway. Patients may be contacted and allocated an attendance time based on clinical urgency as determined by the hospital’s triage process.
If an eye problem occurs outside our normal opening hours, or if we do not have a suitable appointment available for assessment within an appropriate timeframe, patients should contact the nearest appropriate hospital emergency department for assessment and triage, including the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital or Mater Misericordiae University Hospital where appropriate.