Urgent Care
We will always try and help you if you have an eye emergency but our opening times are limited. We keep one emergency appointment free per day, so please ring us just after 9:00 am and we will try to fit you in, or offer an alternative appointment at another local Optical Practice. It is also possible, depending upon the nature and severity of the problem, that we may not be able to help anyway. However, we have listed some helpful advice below.
Chemical Injury
If you have splashed a chemical into your eye, such as paint, cleaning fluid or fuel for example, immediately flush your eye with water for at least 15 minutes. You should then seek emergency care by visiting your local Eye Casualty department or A&E.
Foreign Object
If something small has become lodged in your eye, perhaps a splinter, sawdust or a piece of swarf, do not try to remove it yourself. Ring to see if we have an emergency appointment or go to your local Eye Casualty department or A&E.
Trauma to the Eye
If you get hit in the eye, perhaps during sport, or by walking into a beam, gently apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. Don’t press hard and don’t apply food items. If you develop a black eye or experience pain or visual disturbance, ring for an emergency appointment or visit your local Eye Casualty department or A&E.
Cut or Punctured Eye
In the event of severe injury to the eye itself, in the first instance, gently place a protective shield over the eye and go straight to A&E. Resist the temptation to rinse with water or remove any foreign objects. That’s something best done at the hospital.
Bruised Eye
If your eye is bruised, then either make an appointment to come and see us, or visit your local Eye Casualty department or A&E.
Sudden Blurry Vision
If your eyesight suddenly deteriorates, and becomes blurry for no apparent reason, consult your doctor immediately or visit your local Eye Casualty department or A&E.
Blow to the Head
If you have taken a blow to the head, either during contact sport, as a result of an injury at work, or perhaps subsequent to a road traffic accident, and you’ve developed bruising around both eyes, visit your local Eye Casualty department or A&E.
If your eye injury seems minor, you can call your doctor to find out if you should visit your local surgery, or you can contact us for advice. As you can see from the list, there are only a few emergency situations where we can help directly. However, as opticians we can help with the identification and early diagnosis of a large number of eye and vision complaints, including:
- Myopia (Near-sightedness)
- Hyperopia (Far-sightedness)
- Astigmatism (Rotational asymmetry in the eye)
- Diplopia (Double Vision)
- Presbyopia (Difficulty focusing on near objects)
- Strabismus (Misalignment of the eyes)
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
We can also help with diagnosis and advice on common, non-emergency ailments, such as:
- Conjunctivitis (Inflammation of the Conjunctiva, known as Red Eye)
- Corneal abrasion (A scratch or scrape to the Cornea, the clear front layer of the eye)
- Glaucoma (Raised pressure of the fluid in the eye that can be detected through an eye examination)
- Cataracts (Cloudy patches in the lens causing blurry vision)
- Macular Degeneration (Known as AMD, and symptoms include blurry central vision)
- Blepharitis (Inflammation to the eyelids and around the base of the eyelashes)
- Dry Eye (Caused by inadequate lubrication of the cornea or front of the eye)
- Diabetic Retinopathy (A possible complication of diabetes which could result in damage to the retina)
A number of these conditions are age-related, and to a certain extent, affect us all as we grow older. Having regular eye examinations will ensure that any onset of one or more of these problems can be detected early. Remedial action can then be taken to mitigate their extent and seriousness. If you haven’t had an eye examination in the last couple of years, please make an appointment today.