Eye Emergencies

Sudden Loss of Vision

Anything that affects your sight matters, but some conditions need treatment straight away.

• Retinal artery occlusion: when the artery feeding the retina is blocked, vision is lost suddenly. Treatment is a matter of minutes; if it is delayed, permanent loss of vision can follow.
• Retinal detachment: the retina comes away from the back of the eye, usually through a tear. With early diagnosis and surgery the chance of success is high; if the centre of vision is affected, serious loss of sight can occur.

Injuries and Foreign Bodies

• Blows to the eye: bleeding inside the eye may occur; if it does not clear with treatment it can cause raised eye pressure and corneal problems. Cuts or perforations of the eye need emergency surgery.
• Foreign body: the most common eye emergency, typically in construction and metalwork, sometimes on windy days. It causes severe stinging.

Do not try to remove it yourself or use numbing (local anaesthetic) drops. See the nearest eye doctor.

Chemical Splashes to the Eye

A corrosive substance in the eye is a serious emergency; alkaline chemicals can cause more severe damage.

• Rinse the eye immediately with clean water.
• Keep rinsing for more than half an hour.
• Then see an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Other Eye Emergencies

Acute angle-closure glaucoma (a sudden rise in eye pressure) and acute uveitis (inflammation inside the eye) also need prompt treatment.