Emergency Eye Doctor or Emergency Room?
Not all eye emergencies require a hospital visit. In many cases, our eye emergency clinic is the right place to go. Research shows that many patients who visit the emergency room for eye problems could have been treated by an optometrist instead.
At Dayton Optometric Center, we provide urgent eye care for a wide range of eye injuries and infections. If you are unsure where to go, call our office first. We can help determine whether you need an emergency eye appointment, same-day care, or hospital treatment.
Do not try to determine the severity of an eye problem on your own. Many eye conditions that seem minor can quickly become serious without proper treatment. Our experienced emergency eye doctors can help you decide whether you should be seen in our office or require treatment in an emergency room.
What Is an Eye Emergency?
An eye emergency is any condition that threatens your eyesight or could cause permanent damage if not treated quickly.
- Eye infections
- Foreign objects stuck in the eye
- Eye trauma or blunt injuries
- Scratches on the eye
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- A contact lens stuck in the eye
- Broken or shattered eyeglass lenses
- Sudden flashes of light or new floaters
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not delay care. Prompt treatment by an emergency eye doctor can help protect your eye health and prevent permanent vision loss.
Pink Eye Treatment and Urgent Care for Eye Infections
Not every eye infection is an emergency, but many still require prompt attention. Conditions like conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, should be evaluated by an eye doctor to determine the cause and proper treatment.
We provide pink eye treatment and urgent care for eye infections when symptoms such as redness, discharge, pain, light sensitivity, or blurred vision appear. Early treatment helps prevent complications and reduces the risk of spreading infection to others.
If symptoms worsen quickly or affect your vision, contact our office for an emergency eye appointment.
Symptoms That Require Emergency Eye Care
- Sudden loss of vision
- Sudden double vision
- Sudden or severe eye pain
- New flashes of light or an increase in floaters
- A foreign object in the eye
- Chemicals in the eye
- Swelling or pain after eye surgery
These symptoms often require evaluation by an emergency eye doctor as soon as possible.
What to Do If Something Gets Into Your Eye
Foreign objects in the eye can range from dust or sand to metal or wood. Even small particles can cause serious damage if handled incorrectly.
If possible, gently rinse the eye with clean water or saline. If the object does not come out easily, stop and seek urgent eye care. Never attempt to remove an object that appears embedded in the eye.
If there is bleeding, discharge, or significant pain, contact our eye emergency clinic immediately. In some cases, you may be directed to the emergency room.
Walk-In Eye Clinic and Emergency Eye Appointments
If you believe you are experiencing an eye emergency, contact Dayton Optometric Center in Kettering right away. We strive to accommodate emergency eye appointments whenever possible and can advise whether our office or a hospital is the safest option.
If you are unsure whether your symptoms qualify as an emergency, call us anyway. Delaying care can increase the risk of vision loss.
- Do not rub or press on the eye
- Do not attempt to remove a foreign object yourself
- Do not use cotton swabs, tissues, or sharp tools
- Do not try to remove an embedded object
Call our office for guidance. Our team is here to provide emergency eye care and walk-in eye clinic services when your vision needs immediate attention.