Eye emergencies occur frequently; nearly 2 million people in the United States were seen by medical personnel in 2001 for eye trauma alone, the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary reports. While trauma is a big cause of vision loss and should always be followed up with a medical checkup, trauma is not the only type of eye emergency. Many symptoms of a potential eye emergency can occur and require prompt medical follow up.
Sudden Vision Loss
A sudden loss of vision, whether accompanied by pain in the eye or painless vision loss, should always be followed up with a visit to the ophthalmologist. Stroke, vitreous hemorrhage, or bleeding into the clear gel in the center of the eye known as vitreous, or inflammation of the blood vessels known as giant cell arteritis are just a few of the possible causes of sudden vision loss. In rare cases, medications such as Viagra can cause sudden vision loss, according to the Thompson Eye Clinic.
Trauma to the eye is the number one cause of vision loss in people under age 25, the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary states. Many things cause trauma to the eye. Some are dramatic and obvious, like an object penetrating the eye. Others may not seem serious at first but can lead to serious vision loss. Penetrating trauma can cause infection that leads to loss of the eye. Chemical injury from exploding car batteries, household cleaning products and other corrosive material can result in serious vision loss.
Flashes and Floaters
A sudden onset of flashes of light or a large number of specks or objects that seem to appear in front of the eye known as floaters also need immediate investigation. Flashes and floaters, or the appearance of a veil or curtain across part of your vision, can indicate retinal tear or retinal detachment. Retinal tears or detachment are painless; some follow trauma, while others occur spontaneously. Retinal tears and detachments are more common in people who are myopic, or nearsighted, people with diabetes, and those with previous history of trauma to the eye. Blunt trauma can damage the retina, causing tears or detachments.
Pain in the Eye
Pain in the eye always warrants immediate investigation, whether the reason for the pain is obvious or not. Pain in the eye can be caused by foreign objects, scratches to the cornea known as corneal abrasions or infections in the eye. Narrow angle glaucoma, a rise in eye pressure that damages the optic nerve, can also cause severe pain in the eye.
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