Injuries can occur to any part of our body. Unfortunately, when they affect our eyes, they could potentially have serious and even permanent consequences for our eyesight. Although accident and injuries that affect our eyes can happen any time, there are certain scenarios in which they are more likely, such as when participating in sport or doing DIY. Nevertheless, many of us take our sight for granted and don’t afford our eyes the proper protection when we are undertaking tasks that could put our delicate eyes at risk.

We understand that eye injury and emergencies can arise at any time and following the correct advice from your eye doctor and obtaining prompt treatment could significantly improve the likely outcome from your situation. As such, we offer a comprehensive eye injury and emergency service that aims to deliver urgent attention to patients who have suffered an injury without any compromise on the quality of care that you receive.

Common eye injuries

While there are many different ways in which your eyes can become injured, there are some types of injuries that are more common than others. Below we have listed some of the most common types of eye injuries that we see here at the Advanced Vision Institute in Las Vegas, NV.

Corneal Abrasion

Also known as a scratched cornea, this issue can arise if you are accidentally or purposefully poked in the eye, or if you get a foreign particle such as dust or grit in your eyes and then you rub them. Your eye will feel very sore and uncomfortable, may look red and you may experience sensitivity to light.

It is important to seek emergency advice for your eye injury as scratches can make your eye susceptible to bacteria and potential infection. Cover your eye with a paper cup or eye shield until our team can take a look at your injury.

Foreign object in the eye

This is one of the most common reasons for an emergency visit to our offices. Our eyes are extremely delicate and if something was to penetrate or get into the eye it could have serious consequences for our vision. Don’t be tempted to rub your eye to try and clear it or even to flush it out. Doing so, or trying to remove it yourself, could actually cause even greater injury. Instead, place an eye shield or paper cut over the eye and visit our emergency team as soon as you can.

Chemical burns

Being accidentally sprayed in the eye by a chemical substance is surprisingly common. It can occur from an accident as simple as having the nozzle the wrong way around on a bottle of cleaning solution. In other instances, this can happen by a simple transfer if you have a chemical on your hands and your then touch your eye. However, chemical burns can cause permanent damage to our eye and our eyesight.

If you experience a chemical burn to your eye, run a steady stream of lukewarm tap water into the eye for up to 15 minutes and do not touch your eye. During this time, if you can, ask a friend or family member to contact our emergency eye clinic for you, and we will tell you if there is anything further you can do or if you should come in as a matter of urgency.

If you experience an eye injury or emergency – don’t panic

It is easy to become panicked during an emergency scenario. You may be in pain, see a lot of blood or just become extremely anxious about the possible outcome for your eye and vision. You may even experience all three of these. Nevertheless, try to remain calm. Our experienced, board-certified emergency team have dealt with a huge range of different eye accidents and injuries and are ready to help you. We take most qualified general medical insurances, meaning that you don’t need to worry about cost and can get the help that you need when you need it most. In the case of an eye emergency in your family, please contact us at the Advanced Vision Institute, Las Vegas, NV.