When is it an emergency?
Eye emergencies cover a range of incidents and conditions—including trauma, cuts or scratches, foreign objects, burns/chemical exposure, blunt injuries to the eye or eyelid, and photic (bright light) damage. Serious complications can occur quickly, so urgent evaluation helps protect your sight. Certain non-injury problems, like a painful red eye, vision loss, infections, glaucoma, or blood-clot related issues, also need immediate attention.
- Chemical splashes & fumes
- Blunt or penetrating trauma
- Foreign bodies in the eye
- Bright light/solar exposure
- Sudden pain, redness, or vision loss
- Bleeding or discharge from/around the eye
- Bruising or black eye; swelling of lids/tissues
- Decreased, double, or lost vision
- Unequal pupils; eye pain; severe or new headaches
- Itchy, red, or bloodshot appearance
- Foreign-body sensation; light sensitivity
- One eye not moving like the other or bulging
- Nausea/headache with eye pain (possible glaucoma/stroke)
These signs can follow injuries (e.g., sports, household accidents) or occur without trauma.
- For injuries, gently apply a clean cold compress to reduce swelling; do not apply pressure.
- If blood is pooling inside the eye, cover both eyes with a clean cloth or sterile dressing.
- Chemical splash? Start flushing the eye immediately with lots of clean water or saline.
- Seek urgent care right away for any of the above.
- Rub or press on the eye
- Try to remove embedded objects
- Use tweezers or tools in the eye (cotton swabs for eyelids only)
- Instill medications/ointments unless directed by a clinician
- Attempt contact lens removal if it worsens the injury (exceptions: chemical exposure where lenses didn’t flush, or no immediate help available)
A “black eye” comes from bleeding beneath the skin after blunt impact and usually changes color over days. Blunt trauma can also cause internal eye injuries, including hyphema (blood in the front of the eye), and even skull fractures may bruise the eye area without a direct eye hit—all reasons to get evaluated.
Prolonged exposure to intense light sources (e.g., sun, eclipse viewing, lasers, arc welders) can injure the retina, especially the macula. Avoid direct sun-staring and get prompt evaluation if this occurs.
Preventing eye injuries
- Wear protective eyewear for power tools, chemicals, and high-risk sports.
- Follow directions carefully when using cleaning agents or solvents.
- Keep sharp objects out of children’s reach.
- Stay well away from amateur fireworks.
