Corneal Abrasion (cont.)

When to Seek Medical Care

You should see your ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery of the eyes) if you experience any of the following:

• You have eye pain, with or without an associated eye injury.
  
  
• You experience a sudden loss of vision or a sudden significant blurring of vision.
  
  
• You receive an eye injury from high-speed equipment that could cause a fragment to go into your eye, such as from a grinding wheel, from hammering upon metal, or from carpentry sanding and sawing.
  
  
• You have the feeling that there is something in your eye and you cannot get it out.
  
  
• Exposure to sunlight or bright indoor lights causes severe eye pain.
  
  
• You have eye redness.
  
  
• You are experiencing minor eye symptoms in the presence of a known eye condition or in the presence of having sight in only one eye.
  
  
• Your pain lasts more than a few hours or is severe. Also, seek medical help if you have eye pain and do not recall any injury to your eye.
  
  
• You have any chemical or heat burn to your eye.
  
  
• Pain returns for an eye injury that seemed to have resolved with treatment.

You should go to the hospital's emergency department if you experience any of the above and are unable to be evaluated by your ophthalmologist.

Next: Questions to Ask the Doctor »

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