Emergency Eye Care

Here to Help When You Need It

If you’ve experienced an eye emergency, it can be incredibly scary and stressful, especially if you don’t know what to do. In the event of an emergency, the best thing to do is give us a call. If it’s outside our business hours, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

An eye emergency can mean many different things. Whether you’ve gotten something stuck in your eye or you’ve sustained an injury, it’s vital to have it looked at by a professional.


Emergency Eye Care in Spanish Fort, AL | Perspective Eye Center

Symptoms of an Eye Emergency

Different eye emergencies come with their own range of symptoms depending on the severity. Always contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:

  • Sudden vision changes

  • Burning or stinging

  • Different sized pupils

  • One eye not moving like the other

  • One eye sticking out or bulging

  • Severe pain

  • Double vision

  • Redness or irritation

  • Light sensitivity

  • Bruising

  • Bleeding

  • Blood in the whites of the eyes

  • Discharge from the eye

  • Severe itchiness

  • New or severe headaches

Types of Eye Emergencies

Small Object in the Eye

If you’ve gotten something small in your eye, like dust or dirt, it usually isn’t too serious. Try blinking several times to remove the object. If it doesn’t come out, rinsing your eyes with artificial tears or clean, fresh water should suffice.

If you can’t remove the object and your eye is irritated, please give us a call.

Large Object in the Eye

If something large has gotten stuck in your eye, like a shard of glass or metal, do not try to remove it. A large object embedded in your eye is a medical emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.

Try not to move your eyes while you wait for help. Covering your eyes with a cloth can help to prevent them from moving around.

Chemical Burns

Working with chemicals can be dangerous at work or home. If you’ve gotten harmful chemicals in your eye, try to act as fast as possible. If you’re wearing contacts, wash your hands, remove them, and rinse your eyes with cool, clean water. Holding your eyes open under a faucet or the shower will help rinse away any chemicals that got into them. Rinse them for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention.

Blunt Trauma

If you’ve gotten hit in the head, neck, or face, seek medical attention immediately. If a bruise begins to form, you may have sustained internal damage to the eye, so it’s best to have it examined by your doctor.


​​​​​​​We want you to stay happy and healthy, so we purposely leave room in our schedule to accommodate eye emergencies. If you’re experiencing an eye emergency, please call us or head to your nearest emergency room.