Emergency Eye Care

Kennedy Vision Health Center should be your first call when experiencing an eye emergency during business hours. Our specialized equipment and expertise enable us to better handle eye-specific issues than general emergency rooms in most cases. For after-hours emergencies, call our office for guidance or, if unable to reach us and the situation is severe, proceed to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for immediate assistance.

Eye pain should be considered an emergency when it’s severe, comes on suddenly, or is accompanied by other symptoms like vision changes, light sensitivity, or redness. Pain following an injury, exposure to chemicals, or accompanied by the sensation of a foreign object also warrants immediate attention. If you’re experiencing significant eye discomfort that interferes with your ability to function normally, it’s best to seek professional care promptly rather than waiting to see if it resolves.

Getting an emergency eye appointment at Kennedy Vision Health Center is straightforward—simply call our office and inform the staff that you’re experiencing an eye emergency. Our team prioritizes urgent situations and will work to see you as quickly as possible, often the same day. When calling, be prepared to briefly describe your symptoms so our staff can appropriately assess the urgency of your situation and provide any immediate advice before you arrive.

An eye emergency includes any sudden vision change, significant pain, injury, or exposure to harmful substances that threatens your eye health. Specific conditions considered emergencies include chemical burns, foreign objects in the eye, severe infections, sudden appearance of floaters or flashes, retinal detachments, and sports-related eye injuries. Any trauma to the eye area, sudden vision loss, double vision, or unusually increased eye pressure also qualifies as emergencies requiring immediate professional attention.

For eye emergencies, first call Kennedy Vision Health Center for immediate guidance specific to your situation. If chemicals have entered your eye, flush with clean water for 15-20 minutes before seeking professional care. Never rub your eyes or attempt to remove embedded foreign objects yourself, as this can cause further damage. While waiting to be seen, avoid applying pressure to the eye. Don’t use eye drops unless directed by a professional. If possible, cover the affected eye with a loose, sterile bandage to protect it from further irritation.