Emergency Eye Care | Lifetime Optometric

Accidents Happen—Let Us Help

Eye injuries or trauma to the eye area can be stressful and frightening. Your eyesight is precious, and anything that might put it at risk needs to be dealt with immediately.

Whether it's a hard knock from a stray ball during game time or a splash of cleaning supplies at home, knowing where to turn for emergency support is crucial for adults and kids alike.

When an accident occurs, call our office right away. We can assess your situation and recommend next steps, whether that means seeing an optometrist or going directly to an emergency room.

If our office is closed, you should proceed to your nearest hospital.

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Types of Eye Emergencies

Common eye emergencies we can treat include:

Corneal abrasions (scratches on the eye’s surface)
Foreign objects stuck in the eye
Chemical splashes or burns
Infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Flashes, floaters, or retinal detachment
Eye diseases

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Symptoms That Might Mean an Eye Emergency

While most eye emergencies involve noticeable symptoms or trauma, other eye emergencies are not as obvious. Any sudden changes to your vision should be considered an eye care emergency.

Sudden onset of any of the following symptoms may also indicate an emergency:

Burning or stinging
Pupils that differ in size
Bulging eyes
Severe eye pain
Double vision
Redness or severe itching
Bruising or bleeding
Sudden headache
Discharge from the eye
Eyes not moving together

Call our office immediately should you experience any of these issues.

Eye Emergency Do’s & Don’ts

Eye emergencies can happen anywhere, whether you're at work, home, athletic events, or just hanging out. But you can make a difference by acting quickly and appropriately. Following first aid steps and contacting emergency care right away can lead to a positive outcome.

If you or a loved one experience an eye emergency, here are some do’s and don’ts to guide you:

Do’s

Do flush your eye with cold water in the event of chemical contact.
Do clean your hands before touching your eye.
Do lightly cover the eye without applying pressure.
Do seek immediate medical attention.

Don’ts

Don’t use tools anywhere near the eye area.
Don’t rub the eye or apply pressure of any kind.
Don’t try to remove any large foreign objects.
Don’t apply any medications, drops, or ointments.
Don’t remove contact lenses (except in the case of a chemical splash).

Need Urgent Eye Care?

We may be able to help! If you have an urgent eye issue during normal office hours, please call us at (559)432-2200 to check availability.

For after-hours care (eg. evenings, Fridays, holidays, weekends), on-call doctor services may be available for established patients only (Sorry, new patients aren’t eligible for after-hours visits.) Availability depends on the doctor’s schedule and isn’t guaranteed.

If a doctor is available, an on-call fee applies in addition to regular visit charges and any copays. Payment in full is collected before the exam.

Urgent issues may include:

Sudden vision loss or changes
Eye injuries or something stuck in your eye
Painful red eye or swollen eyelids/styes

Our doctors are typically in-office Monday–Thursday. On Fridays (8:15 AM–12:00 PM), staff are available, but doctor visits are considered after-hours.

For after-hours help, call We may be able to help! If you have an urgent eye issue during normal office hours, please call us at (559)432-2200 and leave a message on the urgent care voicemail extensions. Staff or doctors will return your call as soon as possible.