OPHTHALMIC EMERGENCIES

The following cases require very rapid treatment by an ophthalmologist. They represent an eye emergency that can jeopardise the integrity of the eye:

• A sudden sore eye.
• A red eye
• Dark spot or veil in the field of vision.
• Sudden change in vision: blurred, distorted, double vision, sudden or intermittent blurring of one or both eyes.
• Bright flashes in the visual field.
• A trauma to the eye:
  • Violent impact (balloon, champagne cork, etc.).
  • Eye wound: injury from a sharp object.
  • Injury from an animal or insect bite.
  • Burning by chemical or other product: boiling water, cigarettes, etc.
  • Foreign body in the eye: sliver of iron, wood, glass, etc.

Quick treatment often avoids more serious complications.