Eye Infections and Emergencies

What are Eye Infections and Emergencies?

Eye emergencies can be caused by trauma, exposure to chemicals, burns, infections or the acute progression of a known or undiagnosed disease. They require immediate specialised treatment to limit any damage to the anatomy of the eye and to prevent deterioration or loss of vision.

Some of the most common eye emergencies include:

• Eye trauma: any injury to the eye can potentially threaten vision. Incidents range from a mild corneal abrasion to puncture wounds or a foreign body inside the eye, through to severe trauma that seriously disrupts the tissues of and around the eye.
• Chemical exposure: this may involve liquids, gases, fumes or aerosols. Whatever the substance, immediate decontamination is required.
• Burns: any burn to the eyes or face requires immediate attention. Burns can be caused by direct heat, scalding water, hot oil or other hot substances.
• Retinal detachment: although this can develop gradually, a sudden retinal detachment is an acute emergency. It occurs when the retina pulls away from the inner surface of the eye, causing symptoms such as flashes of light or the sudden appearance of floaters. You may also see a shadow or curtain spreading from the outer edge of the visual field towards the centre.
• Acute glaucoma: this occurs when the pressure inside the eye rises suddenly, reducing blood flow and compressing the optic nerve. Symptoms can be severe and include pain, redness, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbance.
• Retinal artery or vein occlusion: this happens when blood vessels within the eye become blocked. Although often painless, it leads to sudden loss of vision.

Whatever the cause, any sudden change in vision, severe eye pain, trauma or swelling requires immediate care from an emergency ophthalmologist.

How do I know if I need an emergency ophthalmologist near me?

Any sudden, serious problem affecting one or both eyes should be treated as urgent. Injuries to the eye or eyelid need immediate attention, as does any sudden change in your vision or acute onset of pain.

Symptoms that require urgent eye care include:

• Trauma to the eye — burns, penetrating wounds, cuts, scratches or objects inside the eye
• Exposure to chemicals
• Sudden changes in vision, such as partial or total loss of vision, blurred vision, double vision, intense photophobia (sensitivity to light), changes in central or peripheral vision
• Severe pain
• Severe swelling and/or redness of the white of the eye
• Being unable to open one or both eyes

What happens during the emergency treatment of the eyes?

The urgent eye care you need is determined by the underlying cause, and treatment of a wound depends on the extent of the injury. For example, a small foreign body that has caused a minor corneal abrasion will be removed; a dressing or patch will then most likely be applied, to be worn for a few days while the injury heals. 

Severe eye trauma may call for a range of treatments, from stitches through to surgery if the situation requires it. Treatment for burns and chemical exposure likewise depends on the severity of the injury. Emergencies such as retinal detachment and acute glaucoma often require surgery; following diagnostic tests, this may involve one of a variety of procedures, including laser surgery. The key point is for an eye specialist to establish the exact cause of the emergency promptly — once that first step is taken, the appropriate emergency treatment can begin, preventing further damage to the function of the eye.