Emergency eye care
24/7 expert care for vision-threatening emergencies
Sudden eye symptoms or trauma can be frightening, especially when they affect your vision. At Penn Medicine, you’ll find experienced ophthalmologists and emergency medicine teams ready to evaluate and treat a wide range of eye emergencies. For the most serious injuries, our Level I Trauma Centers provide around-the-clock care, access to emergency eye doctors, surgeons, and advanced surgical facilities.
All Penn Medicine emergency rooms (ER) are also equipped to evaluate eye emergencies, with access to specialized imaging, advanced treatment options, and ophthalmology expertise. For other eye conditions, both common and complex, the Scheie Eye Institute is nationally recognized for exceptional clinical care. If you’re experiencing an urgent eye condition, contact your ophthalmologist right away. If they aren’t available, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Fast access to urgent eye care
We offer same-day appointments for urgent eye care, ensuring you’ll receive timely and expert treatment for your immediate eye health needs. Our dedicated team is committed to providing rapid access to top-quality ophthalmologic care when it matters most.
Appointments for urgent eye issues are available from noon to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at our emergency clinic in the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
For traumatic eye injuries, Penn Medicine has two Level I Trauma Centers in Philadelphia and Lancaster.
When to seek emergency eye care
Some eye problems need immediate medical attention to help protect your vision. Others may not be life-threatening but should still be evaluated by an eye care professional. If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing an eye emergency, seek medical care right away.
Seek emergency care right away if you experience:
- Chemical splashes in the eye
- Burns to the eye or eyelid
- An object stuck in the eye
- A cut or puncture injury
- Blunt trauma from a fall, sports injury, or other accident
- A bulging or displaced eye
These sudden eye symptoms can signal a serious condition and should be checked immediately:
- Sudden vision loss
- New double vision
- Severe eye pain
- Eye stroke
- Flashes of light or a sudden increase in floaters
- A curtain-like shadow across your vision
- Sudden redness with pain or vision changes
- Sensitivity to light along with pain
These conditions are often less serious, but they should still be checked by an eye care professional:
- Debris in the eye
- Broken blood vessels
- Excessive tearing
- Minor swelling
- Red eye
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Eye discharge, pus, or crusting
Essential steps during an eye emergency
If you experience an eye injury or sudden eye symptoms, taking the right steps before you receive medical care can help protect your vision:
- Chemical splash: Flush your eye with clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek immediate medical care.
- Object stuck in the eye: Don’t rub your eye or try to remove the object yourself. Cover the eye loosely and seek emergency care.
- Blow to the eye: Apply a cold compress gently without putting pressure on the eye.
- Cut or puncture injury: Don’t rinse the eye or apply pressure. Seek emergency care immediately.
- Sudden vision loss: Seek emergency medical attention right away.
- Any eye injury: Avoid rubbing your eye, and don’t use unprescribed medications unless directed by a care provider.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.