Urgent Care Services

Various injuries and conditions can cause irreparable damage to the eye if not examined properly. If you experience any of the symptoms below, Art of Optiks recommends an immediate consultation is scheduled with one of our doctors.

• Foreign body removal
• Red eye
• Corneal abrasion
• Contact lens injury
• Eye infections
• Flashes and floaters
• Sudden change in vision
• Transient loss of vision
• Head trauma and concussion evaluation

Whenever an eye injury occurs, it’s incredibly important to take proper precautions to prevent severe damage and visual loss. If you or a loved one has been exposed to a harmful chemical, immediate eye irrigation is vital. It’s strongly suggested to avoid manipulation of the eye in any circumstance as this could lead to further damage. Additionally, it’s recommended to utilize a material to shield or cover the eye to protect it until arriving at a medical facility.

Foreign Body Removal

At times foreign objects can enter and get stuck in your eyes such as an eyelash, sawdust, sand, or dirt. In many cases, you will experience irritation or pain and inflammation. Depending on what the object is and how the injury happened, there are instances where the foreign body can pierce your eye, causing severe damage. If a foreign object is stuck in your eye for longer than a few hours, it’s encouraged to contact an eye doctor as any further attempts to remove the object should be completed by a doctor to avoid further injury. Your eye doctor will utilize anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye and prevent additional pain. Foreign objects in your eye can cause scratches or abrasions to your cornea and loss of vision if proper care isn’t taken.

Red Eye

Besides being uncomfortable and likely embarrassing, red eye can be a sign of something even more serious. If you notice redness in one or both eyes, it’s likely a result of inflammation or a sign that the blood vessels on your eye’s surface have expanded due to irritation or infection. Many different factors can cause red eyes from allergies and common colds to conjunctivitis or a sty. If you’re experiencing any symptoms listed below, it’s suggested to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor:

• Pain
• Redness/Inflammation
• Swelling
• Sensitivity to light
• Itchiness
• Burning
• Tearing up
• Discharge

Corneal Abrasion

Your cornea is the clear, front covering of your eye, and there are instances when this part of your eye can become scratched, which is called a corneal abrasion. The cornea protects your pupil and iris from dust, debris, and other objects. Your eyelashes, eyelids, and tears all work together to keep the area clear of foreign bodies. If you suspect you may have a scratch on one of your eyes’ cornea, it’s encouraged to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to be evaluated as it may be a minor abrasion or something more serious. Here are a few symptoms you may be experiencing if a corneal abrasion has occurred:

• Red, irritated eyes
• Eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Feeling like something is in your eye or under your eyelid

Contact Lens Injury

If you wear contacts, it’s incredibly important to utilize them correctly and only wear them for the allotted time length. An injury can occur if you sleep with contacts or wear contacts longer than advised. Additionally, if you experience dry eye or your eyes dry out too much while wearing contact lenses, you’re at higher risk of injury. These injuries to your cornea can be painful but usually heal quickly once treatment is started. If contact lenses have injured your eyes, your eye doctor may apply an eye patch, or prescribe an antibiotic ointment and eye drops.

Eye Infection

Patients of all ages are susceptible to eye infections, and these occur when bacteria, fungi, or viruses infect your eye or surrounding area. Individuals that wear glasses are more at risk for eye infections if lenses aren’t cleaned regularly. Conjunctivitis or pink eye is one of the most common types of eye infection and is highly contagious. A viral or bacterial infection can cause conjunctivitis. Other common types of eye infections include keratitis and sty. Below are a few symptoms of each to look out for:

• Redness
• Itching
• Discharge
• Crusting over eyelid
• Pain
• Sensitivity to light
• Swelling

Flashes and Floaters

The sudden occurrence of flashes and floaters in your vision can be alarming, making it essential to have these symptoms examined as soon as possible by your eye doctor. Flashes and floaters can mean you have posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) or a retinal tear. PVD occurs when the watery elements in the vitreous of your eye separate from the fibrous components. This causes a contraction that causes strain on your retina, thus resulting in flashes and floaters. Seeing your eye doctor is incredibly important, so any retinal tears can be sealed to prevent the event of retinal detachment.

Sudden Change in Vision

Blurred vision can happen when you least expect it, and you’ve likely experienced it at one point or another. However, if you experience a sudden loss of sharp vision or blurred vision for an extended period, it can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. Your eye doctor will ask relatable questions at your appointment, listen to the chain of events leading up to the vision change, and help pinpoint any symptoms that may be associated with the occurrence. A refractive error most commonly causes blurred vision, but there are other serious medical conditions that it could be related to:

• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Tumors
• Inflammation of the optic nerve
• Harm to your eye or the area surrounding your eye
• Brain hemorrhage
• Elevated spinal fluid pressure
• Brain swelling
• Inflamed blood vessels
• Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Transient Loss of Vision

Temporary loss of vision or amaurosis fugax usually occurs in one eye and can last anywhere from seconds to minutes. While this is a rare condition, it must be treated sooner rather than later to avoid permanent vision loss. Temporary vision loss usually occurs due to reduced blood flow to your eye. This condition is most commonly caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and high cholesterol, but individuals that experience regular migraine headaches or have been diagnosed with another medical condition such as glaucoma are also at risk. It’s encouraged to seek medical care immediately upon experiencing temporary vision loss as it could be a sign of blood clots or additional blockages that require surgery.

Head Trauma and Concussion Evaluation

If you are involved in an accident and experience head trauma or suspect a concussion, it’s recommended to immediately seek medical care as both can affect your vision if left untreated. Our doctors will assess the level of your injury and perform a concussion evaluation, if necessary. A thorough visual evaluation will be conducted to evaluate various skills:

• Focusing
• Eye teaming and tracking
• Depth perception
• Overall eye health