Eye symptoms that come on suddenly — pain, redness, vision changes, or foreign objects — need prompt evaluation. We see urgent eye concerns during office hours and will get you in as quickly as possible.
Many eye symptoms that feel alarming can be evaluated and treated effectively in our office during regular hours. We see patients with eye infections (including pink eye and conjunctivitis), eye injuries, foreign body removal, sudden vision changes, flashes and new floaters, corneal abrasions, and allergic eye reactions. Our goal is to see urgent concerns quickly, evaluate thoroughly, and provide treatment or referral as needed — without sending you to the ER for something we can handle in office.
If you're experiencing any of the following, contact us as soon as possible during office hours — we will prioritize getting you evaluated.
Anyone with sudden eye pain or discomfort
Sudden eye pain, burning, significant redness, or a sensation that something is in your eye can indicate infection, injury, or inflammation. These symptoms should be evaluated the same day they occur — not left until your next routine appointment. Learn more about eye pain causes and when to act.
Patients with eye injuries or foreign objects
Workplace debris, sand, metal shavings, plant material, or chemical splashes in the eye require prompt evaluation. Do not rub the eye. Rinse with clean water and contact us immediately. We are equipped to safely remove foreign bodies and assess for corneal damage.
People experiencing sudden vision changes or flashes
A sudden increase in floaters, new flashes of light, or a shadow or curtain in your peripheral vision may indicate a retinal tear or detachment — a true eye emergency. These symptoms require same-day evaluation. Do not delay. Learn more about flashes and floaters.
When you contact us with an urgent eye concern, we work to accommodate you as quickly as possible. Here's what the process looks like.
We make every effort to see urgent eye concerns the same day you call or text, whenever possible during office hours. The earlier in the day you reach out, the more likely we can accommodate a same-day visit.
We conduct a targeted eye health examination to diagnose the condition accurately — using slit-lamp examination, corneal staining, imaging, and pressure testing as appropriate to the situation.
Many urgent eye conditions can be treated directly in our office with prescription drops, ointments, or in-office procedures. For conditions requiring a higher level of care — such as retinal detachment — we refer promptly to the appropriate specialist and coordinate your care.
Have a question not answered here? Feel free to call or text our team.
Eye emergencies include: sudden loss of vision or significant vision change, sudden onset of many new floaters with flashes of light, a curtain or shadow in your visual field, severe eye pain, chemical exposure or splash to the eye, trauma or direct injury to the eye, and a foreign object embedded in the eye. These require same-day evaluation — contact us immediately during office hours, or go to an emergency room if we are closed.
For most eye emergencies that are not life-threatening, an eye doctor is the better choice during office hours — we have the specialized equipment to properly examine and treat the eye. ERs can handle the basics, but they are often not equipped with slit-lamps or the imaging tools needed to thoroughly assess the eye. If you suspect a retinal detachment or have chemical burns, go to the ER or call 911 if we are unavailable.
Do not rub your eye — this can embed a foreign body more deeply or cause additional corneal damage. Rinse your eye gently with clean water or saline for several minutes. If you still feel something after rinsing, call us right away. Metal, glass, or plant material in the eye requires professional removal under magnification, and attempting to remove it yourself risks serious injury.
We do our best to accommodate urgent concerns the same day, especially for symptoms such as eye pain, injury, foreign body, or sudden vision changes. Contact us by phone or text as early in the day as possible. If we are unable to see you immediately, we will advise you on whether to go to an ER or urgent care clinic and follow up with us the next available day.
We are not available for after-hours emergency care. If you experience a serious eye emergency outside of our office hours — especially symptoms of retinal detachment (sudden floaters, flashes, or a curtain in vision), chemical burns, or penetrating eye injury — go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not wait until morning. For life-threatening situations, call 911.
We're here during office hours and will get you in as quickly as possible.