OUR SERVICES

Emergency Eye Care

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No need to wait in an emergency room or call your family doctor, get same‑day eye care at View Optometry in North Vancouver. If you have a red or painful eye, sudden vision changes, a foreign body in the eye, or new spots or flashes of light, contact our clinic right away for an urgent appointment. Our optometrists use advanced diagnostic equipment and have the training to triage eye emergencies quickly. We can assess your condition, prescribe medications when needed, and arrange same‑day specialist referrals. For after‑hours eye emergencies, please go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Eye Emergency Symptoms and When to Seek Immediate Care

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call our clinic immediately:

  • Bleeding or unusual discharge from or around the eye

  • Bruising around the eye or eyelid after trauma

  • Sudden decrease in vision or partial vision loss in one or both eyes

  • Sudden onset of double vision (diplopia)

  • Flashes of light or sudden increase in floaters

  • New or severe eye pain

  • Severe or persistent headache accompanied by vision changes

  • Itchy eyes with swelling or spreading redness (possible allergic reaction or infection)

  • Total or partial loss of vision in one or both eyes

  • Unequal pupil sizes (anisocoria) after injury or with sudden symptoms

  • Redness with a bloodshot appearance, especially when painful or accompanied by discharge

  • Feeling of a foreign body in the eye that won’t wash out

  • Sensitivity to light (photophobia) with pain or vision changes

  • Stinging, burning, or chemical exposure to the eye

Why these symptoms matter

  • Vision changes, sudden blindness, flashes, or a curtain-like shadow can indicate retinal detachment, optic nerve problems, vascular events, or other sight-threatening conditions that require immediate treatment.

  • Severe pain, redness, discharge, or swelling can signal infections (like bacterial keratitis or orbital cellulitis) that risk permanent damage without prompt care.

  • Trauma, bleeding, or a foreign body can cause structural injury to the eye needing urgent assessment and treatment.

What to do right away

  • Call our clinic immediately for triage and urgent appointment availability.

  • Avoid rubbing the eye. If a chemical exposure occurred, rinse the eye with clean water or saline for at least 15 minutes and seek immediate care.

  • If there’s a penetrating injury, do not remove embedded objects; protect the eye with a shield or clean cup and get immediate emergency attention.

  • For pain and suspected pressure-related issues, avoid vigorous activity and seek prompt evaluation.

How we can help

We provide emergency eye care, advanced diagnostic testing, and rapid triage to determine whether treatment in-clinic or urgent hospital care is needed. Our team handles contact lens complications, corneal injuries, infections, traumatic eye injuries, sudden vision changes, and more.

When in doubt, seek immediate evaluation. Quick action can preserve vision and prevent complications. Contact our clinic right away if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.