Toronto, ON / (416) 597-3937
Eyesight largely depends on the health and wellbeing of two very delicate organs: the eyes. Although your eyes do have protective measures in place such as the eyelids, eyelashes, and tears, it does not take much to injure or damage the eye. Eye emergencies are very common and without proper care, can result in permanent vision loss.
If you are experiencing an eye emergency, seek medical help immediately.
We want to ensure our patients always receive the care they require from us. That is why we keep emergency appointments available every day; so we can accommodate an emergent need. When you encounter an eye emergency, call our office. We will advise you as to the best course of action.
If you are experiencing any of the following, you require immediate medical care:
Please note, the above list is simply for reference. If you feel that something is wrong, follow your instincts and seek medical help. You know your body best.
Some eye injuries are very common and may require a little bit of attention before you seek medical care. If you encounter either of these situations, follow these instructions.
Chemicals could seriously damage the delicate mucous membrane covering your eye. If your eye comes into contact with any chemical (including something as commonplace as glass cleaner), you must minimise the damage right away. You can do this by flushing the affected eye out with cool water for 15 minutes. Even if the eye feels better after a few minutes, you must continue to flush for the full 15 to effectively remove the chemical. Once you have completed this, seek medical attention.
If the object has sharp or jagged edges such as a metal shaving or a shard of glass, do not attempt to remove it yourself; seek medical attention and refrain from rubbing the eye. If the object is something relatively harmless such as an eyelash or a speck of makeup, you may wish to try removing it yourself.
Flush the eye out with cool, clean water. The water may carry the object out. Never use instruments like tweezers on or near your eyes.