Eye care in an emergency
Ask the doctor
Q. 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?
A. If you have an established eye doctor, it's best to call that person first for advice, even if it's outside regular office hours. For many eye conditions, it's easy to make an initial assessment over the phone (or during a video call), and the doctor can tell you if you need to come in or if you need to go to a different specialist. If you don't have an eye doctor, you can call a nearby practice first to get advice and maybe an urgent appointment.
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).
However, if you have sudden vision loss (with or without other symptoms such as weakness or headache) or if you've experienced a significant eye injury (for instance, from a road accident or chemical exposure), it's best to call 911 or go to an ED.
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About the Author
Matthew Gardiner, MD, Contributor
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