It is very important to contact your doctor without delay if you experience acute eye pain, sudden loss of vision and/or changes to your peripheral vision with light flashes.
Your eyes and vision are extremely important to our doctors. When the unexpected happens, we offer same day evaluations and after hours for emergency care. Prompt treatment reduces your risk of complications. Please call our office at 512-327-3130 and if after hours you will be routed to a doctor immediately.
Here are the most common medical emergencies requiring immediate care:
DETACHED RETINA – A detached retina is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye. The retina does not work when it is detached, making vision blurry. A detached retina is a serious problem and can result in permeant vision loss and blindness.
Most common symptoms (not limited to) are sudden light flashes in your vision, acute decrease in vision either centrally or peripherally, and/or sudden onset of excessive floaters.
ACUTE EYE PAIN – 2 most common emergent causes
- A corneal abrasion is a superficial scratch on the cornea and can be very painful. The cornea can be scratched by contact with dust, dirt, sand, wood shavings, plant matter, metal particles, contact lenses or even the edge of a piece of paper.
- A bacterial corneal ulcer is an infectious defect and can cause permanent vision loss, rupture your cornea and destroy the tissue in your eye.