A sudden eye injury or infection can be frightening and painful. You need immediate, expert care from a professional you can trust. The optometrists at Village Eyecare provide prompt and compassionate Emergency Eye Care Services in Chicago for a wide range of urgent ocular issues.

If you’re experiencing an eye emergency, don’t wait—your vision is our priority.

After a weekend of treating several corneal abrasions and after-hour emergency visits, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the importance of prompt medical treatment to an injured eye.

If you feel that you have an urgent problem that requires immediate attention, you should call your eye doctor immediately. If your eye doctor is not immediately available, you may call 911 or proceed to an emergency room of your choice.

If you live in the Chicago area and are in need of urgent care, please call one of our Chicago eye clinics right away and follow the prompts for after hours calls:

• University Village: 312.829.6173
• South Loop: 312.663.4250
• Hyde Park: 773.363.0202

What is Considered an Eye Emergency?

If you are unsure whether your situation is urgent, it is always better to be safe and contact our Emergency Eye Care clinic in Chicago. Common emergencies we treat include:

Sudden Eye Injuries

• Corneal Abrasions (Scratched Eye): Often caused by fingernails, paper, dust, or other foreign objects. Symptoms include pain, redness, tearing, and a feeling that something is in the eye.

• Foreign Objects in the Eye: Such as metal shavings, wood chips, or embedded debris. It is crucial to have these removed by a professional to prevent infection or further damage.

• Chemical Burns: From splashes of household cleaners, industrial solvents, or other chemicals. This requires immediate flushing and professional evaluation.

• Blunt Force Trauma: Caused by a sports injury, fall, or impact with an object, which can lead to swelling, bleeding, or damage to internal eye structures.

Signs of an Eye Infection

• Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Characterized by redness, itching, burning, and a sticky discharge. It can be highly contagious and requires prompt treatment.

• Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids causing redness, swelling, and crusting at the base of the eyelashes.

• Styes and Chalazions: Painful, red bumps on the eyelid resulting from a blocked gland.

• Uveitis/Iritis: Inflammation inside the eye, causing significant pain, light sensitivity, and blurred vision. This is a serious condition that needs immediate attention.

Sudden Changes in Vision

• Flashes and Floaters: A sudden shower of new floaters or persistent flashes of light could indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which is a medical emergency.

• Sudden Blurred or Lost Vision: Any sudden, unexplained change in vision in one or both eyes could signal a stroke, retinal occlusion, or other serious condition.

• Curtain or Shadow in Vision: The sensation of a dark curtain closing over your field of vision is a classic sign of a retinal detachment.

• Severe Eye Pain & Headaches: Especially when accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and vision changes, which could be related to acute glaucoma or other issues.

As was the case with several of my patients this weekend, with prompt medical attention, eyesight often can be preserved even after severe injuries.

What to Do in an Eye Emergency: First Aid Tips

Always contact an eye care professional or seek Emergency Eye Care Services in Chicago immediately after administering first aid.

For a Foreign Object or Chemical Splash

• Do NOT rub the eye. Rubbing can embed a foreign object deeper or spread a chemical across the surface of the eye, causing more damage.

• For chemicals: Immediately tilt your head to the side and flush the eye with clean, lukewarm water for at least 15-20 minutes. Seek professional care immediately after.

• For a loose particle: Try to flush it out gently with sterile saline solution or artificial tears.

For a Blow to the Eye or Cut/Puncture

• Do NOT apply pressure or try to remove any object that is stuck in the eye.

• Gently place a protective shield (like the bottom of a paper cup) over the bone around the eye without touching the eye itself. Tape it in place and seek immediate care.

• Apply a cold compress to the brow or cheekbone to reduce swelling, but avoid putting pressure directly on the injured eye.