Could you the signs of an eye emergency?
Half of all sight loss is avoidable, so it’s vital we're aware of the ‘red flags’ that could signal a threat to our vision, and know where to seek help to prevent irreversible vision impairment.
Conditions like retinal detachment, severe forms of uveitis, certain types of glaucoma, as well as corneal abrasions and infection can all cause sudden and permanent sight loss.
The warning signs
Anybody suddenly experiencing the following symptoms should contact their local optician or call the NHS 111 service without delay:
• A curtain, veil or shadow in your vision
• Sudden sight loss or double vision
• Acute redness in one or both eyes
• Photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light)
• Severe eye pain
• Suddenly seeing lots of flashes or floaters (little dots or squiggles).
For most, these symptoms will be caused by a minor condition that is easily treatable, however, it’s important to rule out serious eye complaints that can lead to sudden and permanent vision loss. Urgent medical attention should also be sought if you have a foreign body in your eye that you can’t flush out at home using an eye wash.
Treating eye emergencies
Many of us think high street opticians only offer routine sight tests but more and more now provide a wide range of enhanced services, including same day NHS appointments for urgent eye care issues.
These services are free on the NHS, even if you don’t qualify for NHS sight tests.
If you require medication to treat your condition the optometrist can write a prescription for you there and then or refer you to hospital care, if necessary.
Accessing the wide range of services available at community opticians helps reduce the burden on other primary care services such as GPs and ensures eye conditions are diagnosed and treated early to prevent avoidable sight loss.
Published: 24 September 2024
