Eye Emergencies in Canada and Where to Seek Care

Sudden loss of vision, severe eye pain, a chemical splash or a serious eye injury needs immediate care. Go to an emergency department or an immediately accessible emergency eye service. Call 911 if you have possible stroke symptoms, serious trauma or need emergency transport. Do not wait for an online appointment request.

This page offers general guidance. It cannot assess your symptoms or tell you it is safe to wait.

Warning signs that need immediate assessment

Seek care immediately for:

• Sudden loss or marked reduction of vision.
• A new dark curtain or shadow across your vision.
• A sudden increase in floaters or new flashes of light.
• Severe eye pain, particularly with nausea, vomiting or a severe headache.
• A chemical exposure, penetrating injury or an object embedded in the eye.
• An eye struck by a high-speed object, or an injury followed by a change in vision.

Flashes, floaters and a curtain or shadow can occur with retinal detachment. Severe pain with nausea or blurred vision can also accompany an acute eye condition. An examination is needed to determine the cause. National Eye Institute - Retinal detachment National Eye Institute - Glaucoma NHS - Eye injuries

An eye-care service able to assess you immediately may be appropriate for some retinal symptoms. If you cannot obtain immediate assessment, go to an emergency department. Do not wait until the next day for a routine slot.

Chemical in the eye

Start rinsing immediately with plenty of clean, gently flowing water for at least 20 minutes while arranging emergency help. Do not delay rinsing to look up a clinic. If possible, bring the chemical container or its label so clinicians know what was involved. NHS - Eye injuries

An object is embedded or the eye has been penetrated

Do not rub, press on the eye or try to pull the object out. Seek emergency care. A penetrating injury needs a different response from a loose eyelash or surface irritation. NHS - Eye injuries

Contact lens redness or pain

Remove the lenses and call an eye-care professional immediately if you develop pain, redness, light sensitivity or sudden blur. These can be signs of a corneal infection. If prompt assessment is unavailable, or symptoms are severe, seek emergency care. CDC - Contact lens related eye infections

Do not resume lens wear simply because the discomfort eases briefly. Get advice about when it is safe and whether lenses or accessories need to be replaced.

When an optometry clinic may help

Optometrists assess many urgent eye problems, but availability, equipment and scope differ. Phone the clinic and describe the symptoms before travelling. Ask whether it can assess you now and where to go if it cannot.

Tell staff when the problem started, whether one or both eyes are affected, whether vision has changed, and whether there was an injury or contact lens use. A preferred time submitted online is not confirmation of urgent clinical care.

A red eye without the warning signs above can still need prompt assessment. Pink eye treatment in Canada explains why antibiotics are not the right treatment for every red eye.

New double vision or neurological symptoms

New double vision needs urgent medical assessment. Double vision after a head injury, or double or blurred vision with a severe headache or an unusually enlarged pupil, needs emergency care. Call 911 if a sudden vision problem occurs with facial droop, weakness, speech difficulty, a severe unexplained headache or other possible stroke symptoms. Do not drive yourself if your vision is impaired or you feel unwell. NHS - Double vision CDC - Stroke warning signs

What to take if it does not delay care

Bring your health card, medication and allergy information, glasses and relevant treatment details. Note when symptoms started. For chemical exposure, bring the product label if it is safe to do so.

Ask about coverage once immediate care is arranged. The cost or availability of a routine exam should not determine whether you seek assessment for a possible sight-threatening problem.

Routine follow-up after assessment

Once a clinician has assessed the problem, follow the return instructions and ask which changes require immediate reassessment. For a later routine visit, you can find optometry clinics on iSeeWell. The directory and online request process are not emergency services.

Book an eye exam online

iSeeWell helps you find a clinic and request an appointment:

• Find optometry clinics across Canada
• Confirm the clinic offers the service you need
• Wait for the clinic to confirm the appointment

For coverage by province, see eye exam coverage in Canada. For signs it may be time to book, see when to get an eye exam. For cost details, see eye exam cost in Canada. More guides. Clear vision starts with the right care and the right appointment.

About this information: iSeeWell helps patients find clinics and request appointments; it does not provide clinical care. This is general information, not individual medical advice. Appointment requests require clinic confirmation.