Eye care in an emergency
Ask the doctor
What should I do if I ever have an eye emergency, such as sudden pain or light flashes? Is it best to go to a hospital emergency department, or is it better to go to an ophthalmologist's office for care?Most general emergency department (ED) physicians are trained to handle basic eye issues, but they frequently rely on the expertise of a specialist who must be brought in to see the patient. Waiting for the specialist to arrive will likely extend the wait time (which already can be quite long, since many EDs are perpetually overloaded).
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About the Author
Matthew Gardiner, MD, Contributor
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