Emergency Eye Treatment

Eye emergencies can be frightening, painful, and worrying. When they happen, you need prompt, expert care from professionals who understand eyes. We’re fully equipped to handle urgent eye care needs and get you seen quickly, often the same day.

What qualifies as an eye emergency?

Urgent eye care covers a range of conditions and injuries that require prompt professional attention to prevent complications, relieve pain, and protect your vision:

Sudden flashes of light or an increase in floaters
Red or pink eye
Eye allergies causing severe discomfort, itching, or swelling
Foreign objects or particles stuck in the eye
Eye injuries or trauma from sports or accidents

Sudden vision changes or vision loss in one or both eyes
Significant eye pain or severe discomfort that doesn’t resolve
Chemical exposure to the eyes
Excessive tearing or discharge
Sensitivity to light that develops suddenly

Many people don’t realize that optometrists receive extensive training in diagnosing and treating eye emergencies and have the specialized equipment necessary for proper eye emergency care.

Our emergency eye care process

Contact us immediately

As soon as you experience an eye emergency, reach us by phone. Our front-of-house prioritized. For after-hours emergencies, go to the eye clinic at the Rockyview Hospital.

Comprehensive diagnosis

We maintain all the necessary diagnostic equipment to properly examine and diagnose eye emergencies. Your doctor will perform a thorough examination using specialized instruments to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

Most issues treated right here

The majority of eye emergencies can be diagnosed and managed right here in our practice without requiring referral. This includes safe foreign body removal, treatment of eye infections, treatment of inflammatory conditions, management of sudden vision changes, and care for eye injuries.

Seamless referrals

Some emergencies require specialist care from an ophthalmologist or hospital treatment, such as severe trauma or retinal detachments requiring surgery. When necessary, we coordinate the referral process, communicate directly with specialists or hospital staff, provide detailed documentation of our findings, and ensure you receive appropriate care as quickly as possible.

Collaborative care network

Eye health is often linked to your overall health. We work closely with family physicians, hospital emergency departments, and various specialists. This collaborative approach ensures you receive comprehensive, coordinated care. We send detailed reports to your other healthcare providers to keep everyone informed about your eye health status, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks in your care.

Skip the hospital wait — come here first

Often, eye emergencies that send patients to hospital emergency rooms or walk-in medical clinics can be diagnosed and treated much more quickly at an optometry clinic without the lengthy wait.

For after-hours emergencies when our office is closed, seek immediate medical treatment at your nearest hospital emergency room, and contact us first thing when we reopen.

Insurance coverage

Most emergency eye care services are covered by Alberta Health Care, making urgent care accessible when you need it most.