Flashes, Floaters, or a Curtain Over Your Vision
Eye floaters may look like spots, specks, threads, cobwebs, or small shadows that move through your field of vision. Occasional floaters can be common, particularly with age. However, a sudden increase in floaters, especially when accompanied by flashes of light, blurred vision, or a curtain-like shadow, may indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment.
A retinal detachment can threaten permanent vision loss and requires immediate medical evaluation. Do not wait to see whether these symptoms disappear on their own.
Sudden Vision Loss or Blurry Vision
Sudden loss of vision can affect one eye or both eyes and may involve all or only part of your visual field. Vision may become blurry, dim, distorted, or blocked by a dark or missing area. Possible causes can involve the retina, optic nerve, blood vessels, cornea, or other parts of the visual system.
Eye Pain, Redness, and Light Sensitivity
Redness by itself can have many causes, including dryness, allergies or irritation. Redness becomes more concerning when it is accompanied by:
- Moderate or severe pain
- Light sensitivity
- Blurry or reduced vision
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling
- Discharge
- A cloudy appearance on the surface of the eye
Severe Eye Pain, Headache, and Halos
Sudden severe eye pain accompanied by blurry vision, headache, nausea or rainbow-colored halos around lights may indicate an acute increase in eye pressure.
Eye Injuries and Foreign Objects
Eye injuries can happen at work, during sports, while completing home projects, or during everyday activities. Even a minor injury can damage the cornea, retina, or internal structures of the eye. Do not attempt to remove an object that is embedded in the eye. Do not press on or rub the injured eye.
Chemical Exposure
Household cleaners, workplace chemicals, garden products, and other substances can cause serious eye damage. Do not delay rinsing while trying to contact an eye doctor.
Eye Infections
Some eye infections cause mild irritation, while others can affect the cornea or deeper structures of the eye.
Prompt evaluation may be needed when redness or discharge is accompanied by:
Problems After Eye Surgery
Your surgeon will provide instructions explaining which symptoms are expected during recovery and which symptoms require an immediate phone call. Existing post-op patients should use the contact information included in their postoperative materials whenever possible
