Emergency Eye Care in North Andover MA
Eye problems can progress quickly, so it's often safer to seek immediate care than to wait and see if things improve on their own. At Family Eye Care in North Andover MA, we offer dedicated emergency eye care, including same-day evaluations for injuries, sudden vision changes, and other urgent concerns.
What is considered an Eye Emergency?
Signs that require emergency eye care fall into three broad categories. You should contact Family Eye Care immediately if:
- You face critical vision changes – These include partial or complete temporary vision loss in one or both eyes, sudden flashes and floaters, a dark curtain falling across your field of vision, which is a sign of retinal detachment, or a double vision effect.
- You suffer a physical trauma or injury – Chemical exposure to the eye from household cleaners, an object stuck in the eye such as wood splinters or metal shavings, a severe blow to the eye from a fight or while playing sports, and cuts to the eyelid or the eyeball require emergency care.
- You have a severe infection or symptoms – Extreme sensitivity to light, unequal pupil sizes, and the eye physically swelling forward are signs of infection and require immediate care. Severe eye pain originating deep within the eyeball, often accompanied by nausea, is a telltale sign of a glaucoma attack
Immediate Steps to Take During an Eye Emergency
First aid in eye emergencies completely depends on the type of injury sustained. The general rule is never to rub, press, or touch the affected eye, as this can worsen symptoms and, in some cases, complicate treatment. Immediate steps based on the emergency include:
- Chemical splashes or exposure – Flush immediately by placing the eye under a running faucet of clean, lukewarm water continuously for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Punctures or embedded foreign objects – If something is physically stuck in your eye or has pierced your eyeball, do not attempt to pull it out. Do not wash the eye or apply any pressure. The best solution is to protect the eye by placing a makeshift cover from a paper or plastic cup.
- A blow to the eye or physical trauma – Gentle application of a cold compress or an ice pack is recommended to reduce swelling and pain. Do not apply any pressure and avoid taking certain pain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen. They thin the blood and can trigger or worsen internal bleeding in the eye.
- Dust, sand or loose debris – Effective methods include rapid blinking and natural tears to flush out the debris. Never try to physically pick a speck with your fingers. Gently pulling the upper eyelids down and over the lower eyelids can sweep away the loose particle.
While you arrange for a visit to Family Eye Care, these first aid methods help. However, in an eye emergency, never apply over-the-counter ointments or medications. If the injury happened while you were wearing contact lenses, do not try to pull them out unless it is a chemical exposure incident. In that case, remove them during or after rinsing.
Technology and Treatments Supporting Emergency Eye Care
Rapid decision-making is critical in eye emergencies. Even a few minutes' delay can make the difference between saving and losing your sight. At Family Eye Care, we use cutting-edge diagnostic technology and fast-acting treatments for emergency eye care.
With advanced retinal imaging and an in-office lab, we quickly obtain key diagnostic information. Catching subtle retinal tears, fluid buildup, or bleeding allows us to compare and track how your eyes respond to treatment over time. This helps us distinguish minor problems from urgent conditions that may require immediate intervention.
Common emergency clinical treatments include:
- Continuous irrigation – Generally used for chemical exposure treatment, a tubed contact lens (Morgan Lens) is inserted directly into your eye to deliver a high flow of sterile saline solution
- Intraocular pressure-lowering medications – A sudden spike in eye pressure or an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack requires an intravenous injection, paired with topical eye drops of specialized pressure-lowering medications.
- Bandage contact lenses – Physical trauma resulting in severe corneal abrasions or cuts is treated using large, protective contact lenses. They act as a physical shield and reduce severe pain, allowing the corneal tissue to regenerate.
- Anti-VEGF medications – In case of sudden wet macular degeneration bleeding or retinal vascular damage, Anti-VEGF medications are directly injected into the eye. They stop blood vessel leakage.
What to Expect During Your Emergency Visit
When you arrive, we will perform an eye exam to quickly identify the cause of your symptoms and stabilize the problem. In a chemical exposure incident, we will bypass the preliminary exam and flush your eyes continuously for at least 15 to 30 minutes with saline solution. In other cases, we will conduct standard assessments, such as visual acuity testing to measure how much you can see and your pupil response to direct light.
Depending on the results, Dr. Patti A. Richard and Dr. Alyssa M. Jann or FULL NAME1* will employ targeted treatments to help ease the symptoms and decrease the risk of any further complications. We will also discuss any further treatments, follow-up visits, or referrals.
Payment and Insurance
Family Eye Care accepts VSP Vision Insurance and several other eye insurance plans. We also accept general payment instruments including cash and cards. Contact us for details, and our team will help with any questions about coverage after your emergency eye treatment.
Call or Visit Us Now!
If you are experiencing any eye emergency such as sudden pain, vision changes, physical trauma, or chemical exposure, you can call or visit Family Eye Care now for a same-day appointment and urgent evaluation.
Contact Information
Family Eye Care
555 Turnpike St STE 56
Phone: (978) 681-1111
