Of all your senses, your eyesight likely ranks at, or near, the top. To protect your eyes in an emergency, Ideal Family Eye Care, LTD Sylwia Szewczyk, OD & Associates offers emergency eye care. Whether it’s a developing infection or a corneal scratch, Sylwia Szewczyk, OD, and Małgorzata Zolnierzow, OD, are on call to help their Chicago area patients quickly address most common problems that affect the eyes. For emergency eye care, call the office in Jefferson Park to set up an appointment.

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Emergency Eye Care Q & A

What are the most common eye emergencies?

It goes without saying that your eyes are terribly important, so when an illness or injury strikes, you want to get the best care, as quickly as possible. But what exactly constitutes an emergency? To give you an idea of the types of issues that need prompt care, here’s a list of some common eye emergencies:

  • Injury or trauma to your eye
  • Infection
  • Corneal scratch
  • Chemical exposure or burn
  • Retinal detachment
  • Acute angle-closure glaucoma
  • Central retinal artery occlusion (blockage in your artery)
  • Keratitis

While these conditions range in severity, problems like conjunctivitis (pinkeye), blepharitis (swollen eyelids), and chalazion (eyelid bumps), can also prompt you to seek help at Ideal Family Eye Care sooner rather than later.

When should I see urgent care?

While the doctors at Ideal Family Eye Care can handle many common eye problems, there are times when you should go straight to your nearest emergency room. Of the conditions listed above, the following may require immediate care:

  • Injury or trauma to your eye
  • Chemical exposure or burn
  • Retinal detachment
  • Acute angle-closure glaucoma
  • Central retinal artery occlusion (blockage in your artery)

It’s always best to err on the side of caution and use your best judgment. For example, if you’re in moderate to severe pain or you experience sudden vision loss, you should go to the ER. If you’re on the fence, call one of the knowledgeable staff members at Ideal Family Eye Care and they can counsel you as to your next steps.

What treatments are offered for emergency eye care?

If you have an eye problem that needs prompt care, the doctors at Ideal Family Eye Care provide a number of tools that can help bring you relief, such as:

  • Flushes
  • Prescription drops
  • Antibiotics
  • Topical creams

If your doctor feels you may need more specialized help, they refer you to someone who can remedy your eye emergency.

Outside of eye problems, the doctors also offer prompt service for damaged, broken, or lost lenses that you rely on heavily to get through your day.

To learn more about the emergency eye care services at Ideal Family Eye Care, please call the office.