Are you experiencing any eye pain, blurry vision, or other changes in your eyesight? Here are seven signs that you might have an eye emergency and why it’s important to visit your Calgary eye doctor right away.
When an eye injury or accident occurs, it’s important to seek help from your eye doctor as soon as possible — even if the injury seems minor. Delaying care could lead to serious consequences such as:
- Eye pain
- Permanent vision loss
- Blindness
- Trouble opening the affected eye
It is highly recommended that you visit your Calgary optometrist anytime you experience swelling, redness, or pain in your eye, especially if this occurs after an injury or having a foreign object or chemical in your eye.
Comprehensive Eye Emergency and Dry Eye Care in Calgary
At our Calgary eye clinic, our team of highly qualified optometrists are able to provide a wide range of ocular health services, from eye exams and glaucoma testing, to dry eye and emergency eye care services.
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Symptoms of an Eye Injury
If you have injured your eye and are experiencing any changes in your vision, you might need to visit your Calgary optometrist for eye emergency care. While not all eye injuries require such attention, you should visit your eye doctor if you have:
- Double vision
- Vision loss
- Different size pupils
- Swelling
- Eye pain that doesn’t lessen on its own
- Bleeding from the eye
- Eye pain accompanied by a headache
What Should I Do In the Event of an Eye Emergency or Accident?
If you have experienced an eye injury, it’s important that you know what steps to take so that you don’t cause any further damage. Some important things to avoid include:
- Removing a foreign object that is embedded in your eye
- Rubbing the injured eye
- Taking out your contact lenses (unless it is a chemical injury)
- Using tweezers or cotton swabs directly on your eye
Many eye emergencies can be treated and you will not have any lasting effects on your vision, but in order for this to occur, you must seek medical attention straight away. When left untreated, some eye injuries can lead to permanent damage, and even vision loss.
How to Prevent Eye Injuries
You should never wait until you suffer an eye injury before you do something to protect your vision. Here are five key safety tips to keep in mind when you engage in activities that can increase your risk of eye damage:
- Use sport-specific eyewear when you are playing sports such as football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, and racquet sports.
- Wear protective eyewear when operating machinery or working with tools or chemicals.
- Select toys for your children carefully, ensuring they are always age appropriate. Keep children away from pellet or BB guns and fireworks.
- Wear sunglasses whenever you are outside. Choose glasses that block both UVA and UVB rays and never look directly at the sun.
In Need of Emergency Eye Care? Contact Us
If you have suffered from an eye injury or accident, our highly qualified optometrists can provide quick and efficient emergency eye care to help protect your vision. To find out more, call us at 403-286-4884 or fill out our online contact form.