Emergency Eye Doctor Calgary

If you’re experiencing an ocular emergency, you need to act fast. That’s why Optiko offers emergency eye care services at all of our Calgary locations – Market Mall and Sunridge Mall. And because we accept Alberta health care coverage for eye emergencies, you don’t have to worry about the cost of treatment!

We accept emergency walk-ins at both locations, so don’t hesitate to come in if you need help with a sudden injury or infection. Our optometrists are on staff every day of the week – because when you need help fast, we’re here to make it happen.

At Optiko, we believe in providing high-quality eye emergency services to our patients with care and efficiency. Whether your eyes have been injured in an accident or you have a sudden illness that affects your vision, our experienced optometrists are ready to help. We’ll examine your eyes and discuss treatment options with you until we find the best solution for your needs.

With Optiko, you don’t have to worry about being stuck waiting for hours at an emergency room or urgent care clinic. At Optiko, we’ve streamlined our services so that when you come in with an eye injury or other issues, we can get you the help you need quickly. If you’re looking for urgent eye care in Calgary, visit us today.

Eye pain, sudden vision loss, a foreign object in your eye, sudden onset of flashes or floaters, swelling around your eye, corneal abrasion (a scratch on the surface of your eye) … these are just some of the signs that something is wrong with your eyes. And if you’ve experienced any of them recently? You should probably see a doctor immediately.

Here are some other things to look out for:

• A shadow blocking part of your vision. A curtain or veil that appears to be blocking your peripheral vision could indicate a problem with your retina. It may appear as a dark shadow in the outer corner of one eye and is sometimes accompanied by flashing lights.
• A foreign object stuck in your eye. If you think something is stuck in your eye, it’s important to get medical attention immediately. Even if it doesn’t hurt, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Large amounts of discharge coming from your eyes. The discharge can be red, green, yellow, or white.
• Severe burning, stinging, or itching sensations. This can be a sign of conjunctivitis (pink eye), which is usually bacterial or viral and is easily treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs. If left untreated, it can cause scarring and permanent vision loss.
• Sudden blurred vision that lasts for an extended period. If you suddenly find yourself seeing blurry for more than 30 minutes, it could be a sign of an underlying problem.
• Dislodged contact lenses. If you have a split or lost contact lens in your eye, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. The lens could scratch the cornea and cause a painful infection, which could lead to permanent damage.
• Red eyes. If there is redness around the white part of your eye, it could be due to an infection or inflammation in the cornea. If you have a history of allergies, this may also cause redness around the white part of your eye.
• Eye pain. Pain in your eyes can be caused by many different things including infections and injuries to the eye itself. It may also be related to other conditions such as migraines or tension headaches if they are severe enough to affect your vision as well.
• Bulging or swollen eyes. Swelling of the eye can occur if there is an underlying infection. The swelling may be mild to severe and will cause your eyelids to look puffy. The eyelid may droop, and you may be unable to open your eye.
• Eye exposure to chemicals. If you’ve been exposed to chemicals or irritants, your eyes might burn or sting. You might also notice swelling or tears along with increased redness.
• Photophobia (increased light sensitivity). You may have a condition called iritis. You may also notice that your eyes are itchy, burning, or stinging, or that they feel like there’s something in them.
• Injury to or near your eye. If something has hit your eye, it’s possible that your vision will be blurry, and there may be bleeding in or around the eye.
• Bleeding in your eyes. Bleeding of the eye is a serious concern. While this type of injury is rare, if you notice any blood in your eye, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention.
• Diplopia (double vision). If you notice that you are seeing double, it could be a sign of retinal detachment or glaucoma. Both of these conditions can be life-threatening if left untreated.
• Differently sized pupils. If only one pupil is dilated, it could be an emergency situation that requires immediate medical attention as it could indicate a tumour or other serious problem involving your brain or spinal cord.
• Your eye or eyelid is scratched or cut. These injuries can lead to bleeding in the eye and possible loss of vision if they’re not treated immediately.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, we recommend that you seek emergency eye care immediately – give us a call or head to your nearest emergency room.

If You Have an Eye Emergency, Here’s What to Do

In the case of an eye emergency, it is important to see an eye doctor immediately. But you can reduce the risk of damaging your eyesight by following some basic first aid tips:

Avoid…

• rubbing or applying pressure to your eyes

• attempting to remove any foreign object that has become stuck in your eye.

• using tweezers or any other tools in or near your eyes

• applying ointments or medications that have not been prescribed by a medical professional

You can…

• flush your eyes with saline solution. Otherwise, use fresh water.

• rinse out your eye with artificial tear eye drops to help remove a foreign body.

• seek professional medical attention as soon as possible

Here are some tips to help prevent emergency eye care visits and keep yourself and your family safe:

• Make your home safer for children by either removing or cushioning items with sharp edges.
• When working with chemicals or cleaning supplies, be sure to follow the directions given by the manufacturer.
• Keep scissors, knives and other sharp instruments out of the reach of young children. Teach older children how to use these tools safely and watch them while they work.
• Keep hair appliances that heat up, like curling irons and straightening irons, away from your eyes.
• When you are cooking with grease and hot oil, be careful to prevent splatter from entering your eyes.
• Keep your children from playing with toys that shoot projectiles like darts or pellet guns.
• Wearing safety goggles or a helmet while using power tools or playing high-risk sports will help to keep your vision safe if something goes wrong.

At Optiko, we pride ourselves on having a great team that is committed to providing you with the best experience possible. We have a reputation for being thorough and professional when it comes to eye care, so if you’re seeking emergency eye care or simply looking for comprehensive eye exams in Calgary AB, visit us at one of our two locations – in Market Mall and Sunridge Mall – or give us a call today!