Expert treatment for pink eye, eye infections and foreign object removal
In the event of an eye emergency, you don’t always need to rush to the emergency room or primary care physician. At Eye Care Center, our optometrist is qualified and experienced to treat many eye emergencies.
With advanced optometric technology in our comfortable, customer service driven clinic, we’ll help resolve any condition(s) that pose danger to your eyes and/or vision. Visit us when you have an eye emergency and you’ll receive effective treatment that’s also convenient and cost-effective.
Eye Symptoms that Require Immediate Medical Attention
Many eye and visual complaints require immediate care, and it’s critical not to delay treatment for these eye emergencies. Contact us promptly if you experience any of the following:
- A foreign object scratches or gets lodged in your eye
- Trauma to your eye, such as exposure to a harmful foreign substance or burns
- When new “floaters” appear in your vision
- Sudden flashes of light
- Soreness, itchiness, pain, redness and/or oozing, such as in “pink eye”
- Ocular allergic reactions
- Sudden loss of vision, in either one or both eyes
- When a contact lens breaks or becomes dislodged in your eye
Our professional eye doctor, Dr. Belinda Dobson O.D. will examine your eyes skillfully with the latest diagnostic tools. She will inspect your cornea thoroughly, and if necessary she’ll perform a digital scan of your inner eye to assess for any possible injuries or damage.
Pink Eye
Formally known as conjunctivitis, pink eye refers to an infection of the membrane (conjunctiva) that covers the white part of your eye and lines your eyelid. The characteristic reddish or pink eye color comes from an inflammation of the small blood vessels in your conjunctiva.
A bacterial or viral infection, or an allergic reaction, is usually to blame for pink eye. While this condition is annoying, it usually has no effect on vision. It may be contagious though, so early detection and treatment is important. Contact us to schedule an appointment today in our Bryan/College Station office as soon as possible.
Pink Eye? What to do in the meantime, before your optometrist appointment
If you wear contact lenses, remove them immediately and don’t wear them as long as you have symptoms of pink eye. Take care to wash your hands well and frequently, and don’t share towels – this goes far towards preventing the condition from spreading to those around you.
Applying cold or warm compresses to your eyes for a few minutes, a few times a day, may help relieve your symptoms until you reach your eye doctor.
Foreign Object Removal
This is one of the most common types of eye emergencies. Symptoms include pain, irritation and redness. Regardless of whether the offending object is an eyelash, sand or a splinter of wood, your body will first react with an inflammatory response that causes swelling. Sometimes you will be able to rinse the object out of your eye successfully, and the discomfort will be alleviated. However, if this doesn’t work, it’s time to contact us for help from an eye care professional. Using specialized instruments or an effective eye wash, we will remove the foreign object gently, thereby preventing further damage to your delicate eye tissues.
NOTE: If you are suffering from extreme pain, it’s advised to go to your local hospital emergency room for immediate care. This may be a sign that the foreign object has penetrated the outer layer of your eye, which can cause vision loss or retinal damage.
24-hour Emergency Care
Eye injuries range from the very minor such as getting soap in your eye, to the catastrophic such as chemical exposures or lacerations, which could result in permanent loss of vision. Eye Care Center understands the importance of immediate eye care when there are symptoms of sudden vision loss, pain, light sensitivity, discharge, redness, flashes of light, floaters, etc. These are signs that can require an immediate evaluation or consultation. Our office provides emergency services for eye infections and eye injuries. Please call our office at (979) 779-9000 during office hours or for emergencies. If outside normal business hours, you will be prompted through an automated system that will help you contact our physician on call. In most cases, Dr. Belinda Dobson optometrist will be able to return your call but if not, please seek medical attention at the hospital / urgent care or dial 911.
Our staff will work with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible and walk-in’s are always welcome. State of the art microscopes allow us to examine the front surface of the eye and facial areas around the eye for infection or injury. After assessing the extent of the injury or infection, a treatment plan will be formulated and explained to you. Treatment may include medications and supportive care. Follow-up visits to monitor your recovery will be scheduled as needed.
Come to Eye Care Center in College Station for eye emergency treatments.
