THE TELLTALE SIGNS OF AN EYE EMERGENCY
According to the American Association of Ophthalmology, nearly 2.5 million people suffer eye injuries in the U.S. each year. Because they are so common, it may sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not an injury is serious and requires urgent medical attention. In honor of National Eye Injury Prevention Month, the vision experts at King LASIK would like to share some important information to help you identify eye emergencies and what you can do in case of one.
You should contact your eye doctor immediately if it feels like you have something in your eye or if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Loss of vision
- Burning, stinging or other eye pain
- One eye is not moving like the other
- One eye is sticking out or bulging
- Double vision
- Redness and irritation
- Light sensitivity
- Bruising about the eye
- Bleeding or discharge from the eye
- Blood in the white part of the eye
- Itching
- Headache
- Pupils that are not the same size
What to do in Case of an Eye Emergency
The most important thing to do in case of an eye emergency is seek urgent medical care immediately. However, here are additional precautions you can take:
For cuts and scratches, place a cold compress over the injured eye as you wait for medical attention. Be sure to not apply any pressure.
For chemical injuries, turn your head so the affected eye is down and to the side. Hold your eyelid open and flush with cool tap water for 15 minutes. If possible, continue flushing your eye with clean water as you wait for medical attention.
If a small foreign object gets in your eye, first try blinking to see if it clears your eye. If not, wash your hands and look into your eye to see if you can locate the object. Gently pull down on your lower and upper eyelid one at a time. If you find the object, flush your eye with cool water. If you can’t find the object or if irritation continues, contact your eye doctor.
If a large foreign object such as glass or metal gets stuck in your eye, leave it where it is and get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Do not attempt to touch or remove the object.
For more information on eye safety, contact King LASIK today. Please schedule a one-on-one appointment by calling (877) 551-2020.