It can be hard to tell when an eye symptom is serious or not. The “wait and see” approach can work at times, but in certain situations, waiting can be detrimental to your eye health. We are here to help you with emergency care and with standard office visits and examiantions.
Below are 5 eye symptoms that are serious enough to call us Family Eye Care quickly, so we can treat your condition quickly and help keep your eyes and vision healthy.
Visit Our Office if you have...
1. Eye Pain
Eye pain is not normal. It is a signal to you to get help.
There are 2 main types of eye pain: (1) Ocular pain and (2) Orbital pain.
(1) Ocular pain describes any uncomfortable sensations you may feel on the surface of the eye, like itching, burning, or scratchiness. Common causes of ocular pain are
- trauma (a scratch or a blow to the eye)
- infection or
- foreign objects (something that got into the eye, like a piece of metal or wood).
(2) Orbital pain is deeper within the eye, and can be described as stabbing, throbbing or aching. This type of pain requires a more in-depth evaluation and treatment.
If you experience vision loss or changes along with your eye pain, contact us right away.
2. Double Vision
Diplopia, commonly called double vision, is when you see two images of a single object. It can occur in either one or both eyes. It can come on gradually or suddenly.
Double vision is a symptom of several conditions, ranging in severity from needing an updated eyeglass prescription to diabetes, or even to having a stroke. It is so important to have an evaluation if you have double vision.
3. Sudden Floaters or Flashes
- Floaters are black or silver squiggly lines, circles and thread-like strands in your field of vision.
- Flashes look like lightning, camera flashes or shooting stars.
Occasional eye floaters and flashes are common, normal and usually harmless.
If you suddenly see an increase in the number and frequency of floaters, especially when accompanied by flashes, that may mean that you have a retinal detachment or a retinal tear. These are potentially sight-threatening problems that requires immediate treatment.
4. Redness and Swelling
We've all had red eyes at some point. Whether from a late night out or simply allergies, red eyes often resolve on their own.
When the redness is accompanied by swelling, pain, irritation or discomfort — it's time for you to come in. This can mean you have an eye infection or abrasion. It can mean a more serious problem that may affect the entire body. Lyme disease, Tuberculosis, Arthritis can bring on Uveitis, an inflammation of the inner parts of the eye.
5. Blurred Vision
Blurred vision can mean
- you need an updated lens prescription,
- or something more serious like cataracts
- or a problem with your retina (Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, or Central Serous Retinopathy.
The point is that if your vision starts becoming fuzzy, don't ignore it.
After taking a full history and conducting a comprehensive eye exam, we, eye doctor will determine the cause of your blurred vision and suggest how to treat it.
Emergency Eye Care and More In Old Bridge
If your have symptoms, then don't ignore them. Call and schedule a Visit to our office.
When it comes to eye health, being proactive can mean the difference between healthy eyesight and permanent damage.
At Family Eye Care in Old Bridge, we provide patients with emergency eye care, routine eye exams and much more. To learn more about our services and to schedule your routine visit, call Family Eye Care today!
FAQ
Should you go to the hospital for an eye infection?
It is a good idea to call us and come to our office, rather than to the Emergency Room or to an Urgent Care because we can usually pinpoint your problem, prescribe the proper medications or remove something that may be in your eye if that is the problem. We are experts in this area. Emergency room doctors and the doctors at Urgent care, are probably not as experienced in eye problems.
How do eye floaters form?
At times, eye floaters occur due to natural changes that occur in the eye. Proteins in the vitreous (gel-like substance in the eye cavity) clump together as you age and form tiny thread-like shapes. When incoming light hits those clumps, it casts a shadow onto your retina, causing you to perceive it as a floater.
At times, floaters are a signal of something much more serious going on.
Appointment times may vary so call us for availability.