Emergency Visits
Texas State Optical is available for emergency visits. Please call (210) 361-0112 to schedule an emergency eye exam. If your reach our after hours voicemail and are unsure as to the urgency of the situation please use your best judgment.
Call our Leon Valley, Texas eye care center or visit an emergency room as soon as possible for the following eye emergencies: deep cuts, severe bleeding, sudden vision loss, extreme eye pain, eye pain accompanied by headaches or nausea, chemical spills to the eye, all 911 or visit your nearest emergency room in severe cases of trauma.
Is It An Eye Emergency?
An eye emergency is when symptoms happen suddenly and are the result of eye trauma or they affect your vision noticeably. Symptoms range from eye pain to vision loss. This can be the result of many different factors such as a blow to the eye, objects in the eye, chemicals in the eye, or an eye infection.
Critical Symptoms:
- Eye infection
- Painful eyes
- Loss of Vision
- Diplopia-Double Vision
- Swelling or bulging eyes
- A new or a severe headache
- Bruising around the eye
- Eye Trauma
- Scratch or cut in the eye
- Blood in the eye
- Non-uniform pupils
- Blood in the eye
- Light Sensitivity
- Eye Discharge
If you experience any of these symptoms, please visit a San Antonio, Texas emergency room immediately or contact Texas State Optical.
Emergency Eye First Aid
Different eye emergencies require different first aid care. Contact Texas State Optical in Leon Valley, Texas for specific instructions on what to do for your eye emergency.
Ex: glass metal, grass clippings, gravel
- Do not touch.
- Do not remove.
- Do not apply pressure.
- Cover both eyes lightly, if possible, to prevent movement and further damage.
- Emergency care should be sought immediately.
You should seek medical attention right away if you experience chemical burns. While you are waiting for transportation to the emergency facility, flush your eyes directly with water. Attempt to remove contacts from your eyes. Taking chemical burns seriously is important because some products can cause permanent vision damage. Contact Texas State Optical and/or a San Antonio emergency room for assistance.
- Flush the eye immediately using water. Run water in the eye for at least 15 minutes. Make sure to keep the eye open as widely as possible.
- Do not remove contact lenses prior to flushing; they may come out during flushing.
- Do not bandage the eye
- Seek emergency care immediately after flushing
Examples of chemical burns:
- Gasoline
- Fertilizer
- Perfume
- Cleaners
Try to flush small foreign objects, such as dirt, dust, or sand, from your eye right away with water or saline. Using clean hands, do not rub or scratch the eye. Try to attempt looking under the lids by flipping them up. If you are not able to flush the object out with saline or water, contact your eye care professional right away. Contact Texas State Optical for assistance.
Ex: dust, sand, eyelash
- Do not rub-this can cause scratching.
- Thoroughly wash your hands before touching your eye.
- Blinking or natural tearing can sometimes flush the object. If it doesn’t flush with those, rinse the eye with water or saline.
- Lifting your upper lid and looking down towards the floor may help remove the object.
- Do not attempt to remove the object with tweezers or other objects.
- If, after attempting to flush the eye, the object does not come out, or if irritation continues, see your eye care professional immediately.
Ex: hit by a bat or racket, struck in the eye, hit by a flying object
- Apply a cold compress while avoiding pressure.
- Do not use raw meat because this can increase the risk of infection.
- Seek medical care if you experience pain, blurry vision, bulging eye, blood in the eye or a black eye.
Scratching to the eye can cause serious damage if not dealt with properly. The most urgent cause for concern is an infection. Most scratches heal fine under the supervision of an eye care professional, but seeking care immediately is important. Contact Texas State Optical with assistance and guidance when dealing with scratches to the eyes.
- Do not touch.
- Do not remove any objects from the eye.
- Seek medical care immediately.
This type of eye problem can be caused by even the slightest impact of the eye or the surrounding area. It is known as “subconjunctival hemorrhage” and is not an emergency unless combined with other symptoms. If you experience other symptoms with a popped blood vessel, contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas for assistance.
Usually, a black or swollen eye looks worse than it is. Black eyes can be caused by a number of different things including sports injuries or impact to the eye or the surrounding areas. It is important to seek care from an optometrist to check for damage. Contact Texas State Optical to determining the amount of damage done to the eye due to a black eye.
When faced with an eye emergency the friendly staff in San Antonio are ready and able to help, no matter the type of eye emergency, nor the time of day.
Styes are bumps near the eyelid or lash line. They are caused by inflammation or infection of the eyelash follicle. To treat at home, using warm compresses can alleviate the pain and discomfort. Visit Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas if the stye does clear up on its own after a couple of weeks. Antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics may be required.
Emergency Eye First Aid
Ex: glass metal, grass clippings, gravel
- Do not touch.
- Do not remove.
- Do not apply pressure.
- Cover both eyes lightly, if possible, to prevent movement and further damage.
- Emergency care should be sought immediately.
You should seek medical attention right away if you experience chemical burns. While you are waiting for transportation to the emergency facility, flush your eyes directly with water. Attempt to remove contacts from your eyes. Taking chemical burns seriously is important because some products can cause permanent vision damage. Contact Texas State Optical or a San Antonio emergency room for assistance.
- Flush the eye immediately using water. Run water in the eye for at least 15 minutes. Make sure to keep the eye open as widely as possible.
- Do not remove contact lenses prior to flushing; they may come out during flushing.
- Do not bandage the eye
- Seek emergency care immediately after flushing
Examples of chemical burns:
- Gasoline
- Fertilizer
- Perfume
- Cleaners
Try to flush small foreign objects, such as dirt, dust, or sand, from your eye right away with water or saline. Using clean hands, do not rub or scratch the eye. Try to attempt looking under the lids by flipping them up. If you are not able to flush the object out with saline or water, contact your eye care professional right away. Contact Texas State Optical for assistance.
Ex: dust, sand, eyelash
- Do not rub-this can cause scratching.
- Thoroughly wash your hands before touching your eye.
- Blinking or natural tearing can sometimes flush the object. If it doesn’t flush with those, rinse the eye with water or saline.
- Lifting your upper lid and looking down towards the floor may help remove the object.
- Do not attempt to remove the object with tweezers or other objects.
- If, after attempting to flush the eye, the object does not come out, or if irritation continues, see your eye care professional immediately.
Ex: hit by a bat or racket, struck in the eye, hit by a flying object
- Apply a cold compress while avoiding pressure.
- Do not use raw meat because this can increase the risk of infection.
- Seek medical care if you experience pain, blurry vision, bulging eye, blood in the eye or a black eye.
Scratching to the eye can cause serious damage if not dealt with properly. The most urgent cause for concern is an infection. Most scratches heal fine under the supervision of an eye care professional, but seeking care immediately is important. Contact Texas State Optical with assistance and guidance when dealing with scratches to the eyes.
- Do not touch.
- Do not remove any objects from the eye.
- Seek medical care immediately.
This type of eye problem can be caused by even the slightest impact of the eye or the surrounding area. It is known as “subconjunctival hemorrhage” and is not an emergency unless combined with other symptoms. If you experience other symptoms with a popped blood vessel, contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio for assistance.
Usually, a black or swollen eye looks worse than it is. Black eyes can be caused by a number of different things including sports injuries or impact to the eye or the surrounding areas. It is important to seek care from an optometrist to check for damage. Contact Texas State Optical to determining the amount of damage done to the eye due to a black eye.
When faced with an eye emergency our friendly staff in San Antonio, Texas are ready and able to help, no matter the type of eye emergency, nor the time of day.
Styes are bumps near the eyelid or lash line. They are caused by inflammation or infection of the eyelash follicle. To treat at home, using warm compresses can alleviate the pain and discomfort. Visit Texas State Optical if the stye does clear up on its own after a couple of weeks. Antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics may be required.
Pink Eye Or Other Eye Infections, Corneal Foreign Bodies, Scratches To The Eye
Pink Eye / Other Eye Infections
Pink eye can be described as viral or bacterial including symptoms such as red, itchy eyes and discharge from the eye. A viral infection is highly contagious, and you should seek care from an optometrist in order to determine treatment. Not all causes of red eyes are contagious though. Contact Texas State Optical for assistance with pink eye and other eye infections.
Corneal Foreign Bodies
Objects that do not belong in the eye end up there, on occasion, anyways. It is important that if you cannot flush an object from the eye with water or saline, that you seek immediate medical care. In order to prevent corneal scratching, do not rub the eye and make sure to have clean hands before attempting to flush the object. Contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas if you are unable to flush any foreign objects from the eye.
Scratches To The Eye
Scratching to the eye can cause serious damage if not dealt with properly. The most urgent cause for concern is an infection. Most scratches heal fine under the supervision of an eye care professional, but seeking care immediately is important. Contact Texas State Optical with assistance and guidance when dealing with scratches to the eyes.
Ocular migraines are migraines that cause a visual disruption and may or may not have the pain that a usual migraine is known for.The aura experienced with ocular migraines have symptoms such as:
- Numbness in face or hands
- Feeling mentally foggy or fuzzy
- Disrupted sense of touch, taste, or smell
- Seeing blind spots, shimmering spots, flashing lights, or zigzagging lines.
A retinal migraine only affects one eye and can cause loss of vision. If you suddenly lose vision, seek medical assistance immediately. Contact Texas State Optical or a San Antonio, Texas emergency room for assistance.
Floaters and flashing can be a normal part of aging. They can also be symptoms of retinal detachment and should be checked immediately by an optometrist. Contact Texas State Optical in Leon Valley, Texas for this type of emergency.
Keratitis is when your cornea swells. This can be caused for many other reasons, but it is usually related to wearing contact lenses for too long. Seek medical attention if you experience redness, pain, or decreased/blurry vision. You can contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio as well for assistance.
There are two herpes viruses that affects the eyes: herpes zoster ophthalmicus which is like the shingles virus or chickenpox. This is when the herpes virus affects the eye and is usually caused by an infection.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in and around one eye
- Headache and fever
- Redness, rash, or sores on eyelids and around eyes, especially the forehead
- Blurry vision
- Swelling and cloudiness of the cornea
The other is herpes simplex keratitis which is the same virus that causes cold sores.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in and around one eye only
- Redness of the eye
- Feeling of dirt or gritty eye
- Overflowing of tears
- Pain when looking at a bright light
- Swelling or cloudiness of the cornea
Seek medical treatment for either of these issues.
This is caused by the blockage or closing of the drainage area in the eye. This is a medical emergency and you need to seek immediate medical treatment. Loss of vision can occur within a day if not treated immediately.
Symptoms include:
- Loss of vision
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision or seeing halos around the eyes, which occur due to corneal swelling
- Profuse tearing
Contact Texas State Optical or a San Antonio, Texas emergency room for assistance.
Iritis/Uveitis are inflammation of the eye and are usually caused by systemic diseases.
Symptoms:
- Light sensitivity
- Eye pain
- Redness
- Loss of visual acuity
Depending on if you have iritis or Uveitis, treatment usually involves steroid treatments in some form. Contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio for assistance with this type of inflammation.
Visual Phenomena is can be caused by lesions in the visual pathway. This is concerning because it can cause deficits, decreased or loss of vision, or color blindness. Symptoms include seeing things that are not there, such as zigzagging lines. Seek medical attention of contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas if you have any symptoms of visual phenomena.
Common Conditions Treated In San Antonio
Pink eye can be described as viral or bacterial including symptoms such as red, itchy eyes and discharge from the eye. A viral infection is highly contagious, and you should seek care from an optometrist in order to determine treatment. Not all causes of red eyes are contagious though. Contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas for assistance with pink eye and other eye infections.
Objects that do not belong in the eye end up there, on occasion, anyways. It is important that if you cannot flush an object from the eye with water or saline, that you seek immediate medical care. In order to prevent corneal scratching, do not rub the eye and make sure to have clean hands before attempting to flush the object. Contact Texas State Optical in Leon Valley, Texas if you are unable to flush any foreign objects from the eye.
Scratching to the eye can cause serious damage if not dealt with properly. The most urgent cause for concern is an infection. Most scratches heal fine under the supervision of an eye care professional, but seeking care immediately is important. Contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas with assistance and guidance when dealing with scratches to the eyes.
Ocular migraines are migraines that cause a visual disruption and may or may not have the pain that a usual migraine is known for.The aura experienced with ocular migraines have symptoms such as:
- Numbness in face or hands
- Feeling mentally foggy or fuzzy
- Disrupted sense of touch, taste, or smell
- Seeing blind spots, shimmering spots, flashing lights, or zigzagging lines.
A retinal migraine only affects one eye and can cause loss of vision. If you suddenly lose vision, seek medical assistance immediately. Contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas or the emergency room for assistance.
Floaters and flashing can be a normal part of aging. They can also be symptoms of retinal detachment and should be checked immediately by an optometrist. Contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas for this type of emergency.
There are two herpes viruses that affects the eyes: herpes zoster ophthalmicus which is like the shingles virus or chickenpox. This is when the herpes virus affects the eye and is usually caused by an infection.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in and around one eye
- Headache and fever
- Redness, rash, or sores on eyelids and around eyes, especially the forehead
- Blurry vision
- Swelling and cloudiness of the cornea
The other is herpes simplex keratitis which is the same virus that causes cold sores.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in and around one eye only
- Redness of the eye
- Feeling of dirt or gritty eye
- Overflowing of tears
- Pain when looking at a bright light
- Swelling or cloudiness of the cornea
Seek medical treatment for either of these issues.
This is caused by the blockage or closing of the drainage area in the eye. This is a medical emergency and you need to seek immediate medical treatment. Loss of vision can occur within a day if not treated immediately.
Symptoms include:
- Loss of vision
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision or seeing halos around the eyes, which occur due to corneal swelling
- Profuse tearing
Contact Texas State Optical or a San Antonio, Texas emergency room for assistance.
Iritis/Uveitis are inflammation of the eye and are usually caused by systemic diseases.
Symptoms:
- Light sensitivity
- Eye pain
- Redness
- Loss of visual acuity
Depending on if you have iritis or Uveitis, treatment usually involves steroid treatments in some form. Contact Texas State Optical in Leon Valley, Texas for assistance with this type of inflammation.
Keratitis is when your cornea swells. This can be caused for many other reasons, but it is usually related to wearing contact lenses for too long. Seek medical attention if you experience redness, pain, or decreased/blurry vision. You can contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas as well for assistance.
Visual Phenomena is can be caused by lesions in the visual pathway. This is concerning because it can cause deficits, decreased or loss of vision, or color blindness. Symptoms include seeing things that are not there, such as zigzagging lines. Seek medical attention of contact Texas State Optical in San Antonio, Texas if you have any symptoms of visual phenomena.
Emergencia Oculares
Ofrecemos servicios de emergencia que requieren atención inmediata y urgente. Nuestros médicos de los ojos tienen la última tecnología y mucha experiencia con infecciones oculares, ojos arañados, ojos dolorosos o picazón y muchos otros tipos de infecciones oculares. Acceptamos la mayoría de los planes de seguro médico.
Emergencias De Los Ojos En San Antonio, Texas
No siempre está suficientemente claro cuándo debemos acudir a urgencias, más en el caso de peligro para los ojos. Por favor llámenos si tienes una emergencia ocular de cualquier tipo.
Visite Nuestro OptometristaEn la clinica Texas State Optical utilizan equipos avanzados para su examen ocular. Exámenes de la vista completos para adultos y niños, co-manejo de la cirugía de corrección de la visión con láser, cuidado de emergencias oculares y mucho más. Los optometristas en nuestra clinica en Plano son doctores de los ojos para pacientes de todas las edades. Por favor llámenos y le atenderemos en Español.
Meet Our Optometrist
Questions And Answers
Questions And Answers
The most important thing is to not panic. Most eye emergencies are treated successfully by our optometrist. If you are concerned please call our office, if it is after hours please use your judgment regarding visiting an emergency room or urgent care facility.
Contact Us
San Antonio, TX 78249
Locate Us
Hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
