Emergency Eye Care

You know the phrase “seeing stars”, and how people talk about that after a head injury? Those stars are actually flashes, and are bright little bursts of light which could indicate a serious underlying condition like retinal detachment. This can lead to complete vision loss, so while it may not be likely, any experience of flashes – or unexpected floating black lines or dots in your vision – should prompt an immediate visit to Woodstock Optical.

Learn more about eye floaters & flashes.

Acid burns can be quite nasty, but if thoroughly rinsed and then immediately treated, they usually heal well and leave only superficial damage to the eye. Burns from alkali however can be extremely serious. The chemical can seep through ocular surface and penetrate your eye, potentially causing total and permanent blindness. Any and all burns should be rinsed (for 15 minutes under a tap) and given emergency care.

The best thing you can do if any object is embedded or somehow trapped in your eye is to cover it up (try using a plastic cup) and going immediately to our practice, or the emergency department at the nearest hospital, if we’re unavailable.

A serious smack to the head, such as a sporting injury, can be very unsettling for your vision. If you experience any bad head injury – especially if you lose consciousness – you should schedule an immediate appointment. Even if you feel okay, trauma is rarely as superficial as it seems, and your vision may be at risk.

If you experience any loss of sight, you must visit an eyecare specialist immediately. If we are not available, we will try to recommend another practice who can take you; vision loss is often irreversible and must take priority over everything else you have going on.