Most eye scares are not catastrophes, but a few genuinely are — and knowing the difference can save your vision. As a rule, any sudden change in vision, significant pain, or chemical exposure deserves immediate attention. When in doubt, call us at (843) 796-1155; we would much rather hear from you early than late.
A chemical splash is a true emergency: flush the eye with clean water or saline for at least 15 minutes and seek care immediately. Sudden vision loss, a curtain or shadow across your sight, or a sudden burst of new floaters and flashes can signal a retinal problem and need urgent evaluation. A hard blow to the eye also warrants a prompt look.
For a foreign object — sand, an eyelash, a stray bit of beach — do not rub, however much your brain insists on it. Rubbing can turn a minor irritation into a scratched cornea. Instead, blink, flush gently with saline, and if it will not clear, call us. For a scratched eye, skip the “tough it out” approach; corneal scratches can get infected, and we can treat them and ease the pain.
A bright red patch on the white of your eye (a subconjunctival hemorrhage) looks alarming but is usually painless and harmless, fading on its own — think of it as an eye bruise. Mild, occasional twitching is also typically nothing to worry about. Still, if anything concerns you, a quick call settles it.
Do not rub it, skip the contacts, and call us. Corneal scratches are common and treatable, but they need proper care to heal cleanly and avoid infection.
Usually not. A subconjunctival hemorrhage looks dramatic but is typically painless and clears on its own. If it comes with pain or vision changes, have it checked.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jason Siegmund, OD, a board-certified optometric physician at Siegmund Eye Care in Myrtle Beach.
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