Emergency Eye Care at Eyes & Optics

Eye emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and knowing when to seek medical attention can make an important difference in protecting your vision. Whether you're experiencing sudden vision changes, eye pain, flashes and floaters, or an eye injury, prompt evaluation is essential.

At Eyes & Optics, we provide emergency eye care in Farmington Hills for patients throughout Metro Detroit. Our doctors evaluate and manage a variety of urgent eye conditions, with same-day emergency appointments available when possible.

What Is an Eye Emergency?

An eye emergency is any sudden injury, symptom, or change in vision that requires prompt medical attention. Some eye emergencies can cause permanent vision loss if treatment is delayed, even when symptoms initially seem mild.

Common eye emergencies include:

• Sudden loss or significant changes in vision
• New flashes of light or a sudden increase in floaters
• Eye injuries, scratches, or foreign objects
• Red, painful, or severely irritated eyes
• Contact lens-related issues including infections
• Chemical exposure or burns
• Sudden double vision
• Severe eye pain or pressure

If you're unsure whether your symptoms require urgent attention, contact our office for immediately for guidance. Some conditions may require prompt evaluation in an emergency department.

Warning Signs That Require Immediate Attention

Certain eye symptoms should never be ignored. Seek urgent medical attention if you experience:

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• New flashes of light, numerous floaters, or a dark curtain or veil across your vision
• Severe eye pain, particularly with headache, nausea, or vomiting
• Sudden onset double vision
• Significant eye injuries or bleeding
• Chemical splashes or burns
• A red, painful eye with sensitivity to light
• A white spot on the cornea, especially if you wear contact lenses
• Swelling around the eye accompanied by fever, pain, or difficulty moving the eye

Sudden vision loss, sudden double vision with neurological symptoms, serious penetrating injuries, and severe chemical injuries may require immediate hospital-based emergency care.

Flashes and Floaters: When Should You Be Concerned?

Flashes and floaters are among the most common reasons patients seek emergency eye care.

Floaters may appear as small spots, dots, threads, cobwebs, or squiggly lines that move across your vision. Flashes may look like brief streaks of light or camera flashes, often appearing in your peripheral vision.

Although many floaters are harmless, new flashes or a sudden increase in floaters can indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment and need immediate attention.

A retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the tissue beneath it. Without prompt treatment, this condition can cause permanent vision loss.

If you notice new flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, or a shadow/veil/curtain moving across your vision, seek an urgent dilated eye examination the same day.

Do not wait for symptoms to disappear before seeking care.

Common Eye Emergencies We Evaluate

Eye Injuries and Trauma to the Eye

Eye injuries can occur during sports, home improvement projects, yard work, or everyday activities.

Common injuries include corneal abrasions, blunt trauma, and foreign objects in the eye. Even injuries that appear minor can sometimes cause damage beneath the surface.

Our doctors can evaluate many eye injuries and determine whether additional treatment or referral is necessary.

Severe trauma, penetrating injuries, or suspected ruptures of the eye require immediate emergency department care.

Foreign Objects in the Eye

Dust, dirt, metal fragments, and other small particles can become trapped on the surface of the eye.

Symptoms may include irritation, tearing, redness, pain, or the sensation that something is stuck in your eye.

Avoid rubbing your eye or attempting to remove an embedded object yourself. Our doctors can examine the eye and remove certain superficial foreign objects when appropriate.

Red Eyes and Eye Infections

A red eye can result from many different conditions, ranging from mild irritation to serious infections.

Symptoms such as significant pain, sensitivity to light, discharge, or blurred vision may indicate a condition that requires urgent treatment.

Contact lens wearers should be especially cautious. A red or painful eye while wearing contact lenses can sometimes indicate a corneal infection or ulcer that may cause permanent vision loss.

If you develop redness, pain, or unusual discomfort while wearing contact lenses, remove them immediately and seek a prompt eye examination. Do not resume contact lens wear until our doctors confirm it is safe.

Chemical Eye Injuries

Chemical exposure can cause serious damage to the surface of the eye, particularly when strong cleaning products, drain cleaners, or other caustic substances are involved.

If a chemical gets into your eye:

• Immediately flush the eye with clean, lukewarm running water or saline for at least 20 minutes.
• Remove contact lenses if possible without delaying irrigation.
• Do not rub your eye or attempt to neutralize the chemical with another substance.
• Seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Do not delay flushing your eye while waiting for medical assistance. Severe chemical burns require immediate emergency department evaluation.

Sudden Eye Pain or Vision Loss

Sudden eye pain, significant vision loss, or rapidly worsening vision may indicate a serious eye condition.

Possible causes include acute angle-closure glaucoma, retinal issues, inflammation, or problems with blood flow to the eye.

Some of these conditions require immediate hospital-based evaluation and treatment.

Sudden vision loss should be treated as a medical emergency, even if it is painless or improves on its own.

What Should You Do During an Eye Emergency?

The appropriate response depends on the type and severity of the injury or symptoms.

For many urgent eye problems, calling our office promptly allows us to determine whether an emergency eye appointment is appropriate or if a referral to the emergency department is necessary.

Call 911 or seek emergency department care immediately for sudden vision loss, stroke-like symptoms, severe penetrating eye injuries, or other potentially serious medical emergencies.

If a chemical enters your eye, begin flushing immediately while arranging emergency care.

Avoid rubbing or applying pressure to an injured eye and never attempt to remove an object embedded in the eye.

How to Help Prevent Eye Injuries

Although not every eye emergency can be prevented, simple precautions can reduce your risk of injury.

• Wear appropriate protective eyewear when using power tools, working with chemicals, or participating in activities that could cause eye injuries.
• Use sports-specific protective eyewear when recommended.
• Keep household chemicals and sharp objects away from children.
• Follow proper safety precautions when working with machinery, lasers, or welding equipment.
• Avoid handling fireworks or standing close to active fireworks.
• Practice proper contact lens hygiene and follow recommended wearing schedules.

Protective eyewear is particularly important because many serious eye injuries occur during routine activities at home or work.

Emergency Eye Care Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a same-day emergency eye appointment?

At Eyes & Optics, we offer same-day emergency eye appointments when available. If you're experiencing an urgent eye problem, call us at 248-788-1610 as soon as possible. Our staff can help determine whether an office evaluation is appropriate or whether you should seek immediate emergency department care.

Should I go to an eye doctor or the emergency room for an eye emergency?

Many urgent eye problems, including painful red eyes, new flashes and floaters, and certain minor eye injuries, can be evaluated by our doctors. However, sudden vision loss, severe penetrating injuries, serious chemical burns, or eye symptoms accompanied by stroke-like symptoms require immediate emergency department care. When in doubt about a potentially serious condition, do not delay emergency treatment.

What should I do if I accidentally scratch my eye?

Avoid rubbing your eye or wearing contact lenses. A scratched cornea can cause significant pain, tearing, redness, and sensitivity to light. Contact our office promptly for an examination, as many corneal abrasions require treatment to prevent complications.

Is a red eye always an emergency?

Not necessarily. Redness can result from allergies, dryness, or mild irritation, but it can also indicate an infection or other serious eye condition. A red eye accompanied by pain, light sensitivity, decreased vision, or contact lens wear should be evaluated urgently.

Can I wait until tomorrow if I suddenly notice new floaters?

New floaters, especially when accompanied by flashes of light, can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment. A sudden onset of floaters warrants an urgent dilated eye examination, preferably the same day. If you notice a dark curtain, shadow, or loss of vision, seek immediate emergency evaluation.

Does medical insurance cover emergency eye visits?

Emergency eye examinations are often billed through medical insurance rather than routine vision insurance. Coverage depends on your specific plan, diagnosis, deductible, and copay. Our staff can help review your insurance information, but urgent treatment should never be delayed because of insurance questions.

Emergency Eye Appointments in Farmington Hills

At Eyes & Optics, we understand that unexpected eye problems can be concerning. Our doctors provide urgent evaluations for a variety of eye conditions, including flashes and floaters, eye injuries, foreign objects, painful red eyes, and contact lens-related complications.

We offer same-day emergency eye appointments when available and can help determine whether your condition requires additional care or referral to a specialist.

If you're experiencing an urgent eye problem, call our office as soon as possible.

Call Eyes & Optics at 248-788-1610 for emergency eye care.

For severe injuries, sudden vision loss, or other potentially life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency department. Do not delay emergency treatment while waiting for an office appointment.

​​​​​​​At Eyes & Optics, we're proud to provide personalized eye care for individuals and families in Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Commerce Township, West Bloomfield, Walled Lake, Livonia, Northville, Orchard Lake, Plymouth, Wixom and surrounding Metro Detroit communities.

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