Your Eye Health is Worth Protecting
Even those with careful attention to safety sometimes find themselves in an emergency. Your eyelids, eyelashes, and tears protect your eyes from debris and foreign objects, but emergencies still happen.
Some situations can wait; these should not. Visit our office in the case of:
- Corneal abrasions or scratches
- A foreign object in the eye
- Chemical in the eye
- Sudden changes in vision
- Partial or complete vision loss
- Thick yellow, green, or white discharge in your eye or eyes
- Sudden increase or changes in floaters
- Flashes in your vision
- Blood in front of the iris (please proceed to your nearest emergency facility)
Reacting quickly could save your eyesight. In an emergency, seek help immediately. There is no need to delay care in an emergency. Many emergency eye care visits are covered through Saskatchewan Health.
If you are experiencing an eye emergency, do not wait for symptoms to worsen. Call us right away at 306-978-2993 so we can help determine the appropriate next steps for your care. If your emergency occurs outside of our regular business hours, contact our after-hours emergency line at 306-371-9911.
If we are unavailable, please head to your nearest emergency room.
Basic Eye First Aid
There are a few common eye injuries where some immediate steps should be taken right away before you seek medical attention. In the following cases, take a moment to perform these first aid steps before seeking medical care.
Corneal abrasions, or scratches on the front of your eye, are common and can be quite dangerous. If you believe you’ve scratched your eyeball, start by flushing your eye out with clean water to make sure nothing is caught in the eye tissue.
While you seek medical attention, be sure to avoid rubbing your eye, as that could make the injury worse.
If something like an eyelash or a fleck of makeup is stuck to your eye, try flushing it out with clean water.
If an object is actually embedded in your eye tissue, seek medical attention right away. Whether the object is stuck to the eye’s surface or embedded in your eye, you must avoid rubbing it to prevent any further damage. Do not attempt to remove the object on your own.
Never use tweezers or any other kind of tool to remove something from your eye.
Any sort of chemical contact could be detrimental to your eye’s delicate tissues. If harmful chemicals touch your eyes, you must flush them out with clean water immediately for at least 15 minutes. Even if your eyes feel fine, you must flush them for the full 15 minutes to be sure that all chemical traces are removed.
After 15 minutes of flushing, seek medical attention.
What Happens During an Emergency Eye Exam?
During an emergency eye exam, our Saskatoon optometrists will ask about your symptoms, when they started, and whether there was an injury, infection, or sudden change in your vision. From there, we can examine your eyes closely and determine what may be causing the problem.
Your visit may include vision testing, eye pressure measurement, retinal evaluation, or other diagnostic checks depending on your symptoms. If your concern requires treatment, follow-up care, or referral to another healthcare provider, we’ll explain the next steps clearly.
If you are unsure whether your symptoms need urgent attention, contact Brighton Eyecare and our team can help you decide how quickly you should be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Emergencies
An eye emergency includes sudden vision loss, severe pain, chemical splashes, physical impact, or a sudden influx of flashes and floaters. If you experience any of these alarming visual changes, call our clinic immediately for direct assistance.
Do not rub your eye or use tweezers to remove an embedded foreign object, as this can worsen corneal damage. Please call our clinic right away so our optometry team can safely evaluate your eye and advise you on the next steps.
Optometry clinics are fully equipped to diagnose and treat eye infections, corneal scratches, foreign debris, and sudden visual distortions. For severe chemical burns or major facial trauma, proceed to the nearest emergency room or call our clinic for immediate guidance.
Yes, Saskatchewan Health covers urgent ocular visits for all residents holding a valid Saskatchewan Health Card. If you suspect you are having an eye emergency, call our clinic immediately so we can arrange prompt assessment at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
You should never delay seeking professional care for severe eye pain, trauma, or sudden visual disturbances, as waiting can lead to permanent damage to your sight. If you notice any sudden visual changes, call our clinic right away to arrange a prompt evaluation.
Keep your eyes shielded, avoid rubbing or touching the area, and do not attempt to self-medicate with unprescribed drops. Call our clinic while on your way so our team can prepare for your arrival and provide immediate safety instructions over the phone.
Visit Our Location
Find us in Brighton Marketplace, near the Shoppers Drug Mart and the Pet Valu. There is plenty of parking available.
Our Address
Contact Information
- Phone: 306-978-2993
- Fax: 306-978-2990
- Email: becadmin@yxevision.ca
After Hours Emergencies: 306-371-9911
Hours of Operation
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