Focus on Eyes: Know what to do in case of an eye emergency
Support local journalism. A digital subscription is incredibly affordable and makes you the most informed person around. Click here and subscribe today.
When patients contact our office for appointments, we triage to determine the urgency of the visits.
Routine visits such as cataract evaluation, glaucoma checkup or diabetic eye examinations are scheduled at the convenience of the patients.
Urgent visits such as evaluation and treatments of styes or conjunctivitis are usually seen in days.
There are eye emergencies that are examined in our office or in the hospital emergency wards on the same day.
Dr. Ho's previous three columns:
Eye trouble: Signs of a detached retina, what can be done and how long recovery takes
Eye cancer: Cancer not only affects the area around the eyes, but can occur in the eye itself
Heard of this? Childhood myopia Is on the rise, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it worse
Chemical splash into the eye is an eye emergency.
Irrigate the eyes immediately with tap water before rushing to the emergency department.
Do not try to neutralize the acidic solution with alkali or vice versa because the chemical reaction generates heat and further damages the eyes.
Penetrating eye injury requires surgical repair.
Protect the injured eye with a plastic shield or disposable cup.
Do not put any pressure on the eye. Arrange transportation to a hospital with a trauma center.
Similarly, blunt trauma to the eye may be associated with multiple intraocular damage. A thorough evaluation by an ophthalmologist is necessary.
Facial injuries can be associate with serious intraocular injury.
After stabilizing the facial damage, the eyes should be carefully examined for any occult trauma.
Acute glaucoma attack can present as sudden onset of eye pain, headache and blurry vision.
If left untreated, it can result in permanent visual loss. Laser can successfully reverse the glaucoma attack.
Stroke in the eye can be the result of diminished blood flow to the optic nerve or the retina.
There is usually a profound loss of vision. It is important to arrive at a hospital with a stroke center.
Prompt evaluation and treatment can sometimes recover some vision.
It is most important to prevent another stroke that may cause paralysis or neurological deficits.
Any time you experience significant visual change or severe eye pain, please contact an ophthalmologist or visit a hospital emergency department for evaluation.
Dr. Frederick Ho, the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MD is located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Eye emergencies include chemical splash, trauma, penetration, stroke
