Emergency Eye Care in Calgary

Blunt trauma can be any injury resulting from a force directed at your eye or surrounding area. The most well-known symptom of a blow to the eye is a black eye, but blunt trauma can cause more than ugly bruising.

Symptoms of blunt eye trauma may include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Flashes of light
• Vision problems
• Floaters or dark spots
• Problems with eye movement
• Changes in eye appearance

It can be tempting to sleep it off or wait before seeking medical attention, but it’s crucial to visit a medical professional after experiencing an injury or blunt trauma. If you experience any symptoms, no matter how minor, you should consult a medical professional or book an appointment with your eye doctor.

Although many eye diseases and conditions develop slowly, changes in your eye health can develop as eye disease progresses. Sudden changes or symptoms are a medical emergency.

Contact emergency care immediately or call us to book an emergency appointment if you experience any of the following eye emergency symptoms:

• Eye pain
• Redness
• Bleeding
• Discharge
• Vision loss
• Blurry vision
• Bulging eye
• Double vision
• Bruising around eye
• Sudden light sensitivity
• Burning or stinging
• Pupils that are different sizes
• Irritation or severe itchiness
• Eyes not moving together
• New or severe headaches

Chemical exposure or a chemical burn is when a foreign substance or chemical enters the eye. You don’t need to be in a lab or a construction site for chemical exposure. Cleaning products, hand sanitizers, and kitchen ingredients are all common chemical irritants.

Common symptoms of chemical burns are:

• Pain
• Redness
• Irritation
• Blurry vision
• Watery eyes
• Inability to keep eye open
• Swelling (eye tissue or eyelids)
• Feeling something in the eye

If you’re exposed to a chemical irritant, you should flush your eye immediately. Then, call for help, either by booking an emergency eye appointment or making arrangements for emergency care.

Even if you successfully flush the chemical irritant from your eye, you should still visit your optometrist to assess your eye health. Some chemicals are more difficult to remove and can have longer effects. An eye exam after an emergency is crucial to protecting your eyes and vision.