At Galiani Ophthalmology our doctors are experienced in providing comprehensive emergency on-call care to ensure that all injuries and traumas are handled thoroughly and efficiently to minimize visual loss. Emergency eye care may be trauma-induced as a result of an accident, scratch or contamination. Other troubling symptoms may include sudden loss of vision, redness, pain, swelling, floaters, flashes or visual impairment. It is essential to seek immediate attention for emergent symptoms to reduce the risk of permanent damage.
What Is Considered an Eye Emergency?
An eye emergency involves sudden symptoms or injuries that threaten vision and require immediate medical evaluation. Prompt care allows your ophthalmologist to determine the cause, assess the level of risk, and take steps to protect your eyesight.
Situations that require urgent attention include:
- Sudden loss or major decrease in vision, which may require a detailed eye exam and imaging to evaluate the retina, optic nerve, or blood flow
- New flashes of light or a sudden increase in floaters are often assessed to rule out retinal tears or detachment
- Chemical splashes or exposure, which require immediate evaluation and careful management to limit damage to the eye surface
- Foreign objects in the eye, such as metal or wood, may need specialized removal and follow-up care
- Severe eye pain or significant redness, which can signal infection, inflammation, or pressure changes inside the eye
- Blunt trauma or direct injury to the eye, which may cause internal damage even when the eye appears intact
During an emergency visit, your ophthalmologist evaluates vision, intraocular pressure, and inner eye structures using specialized diagnostic tools. This assessment helps identify whether symptoms involve the retina, cornea, optic nerve, or internal eye tissues. Early evaluation often allows treatment to begin before damage progresses, which can make a meaningful difference in visual outcomes.
What To Do If You Think You Have an Eye Emergency
If you experience sudden eye symptoms or injury, call our office immediately. Early communication allows our team to assess urgency and guide next steps.
When you call the office, our team asks focused questions about your symptoms, timing, and recent injuries or exposures. This process helps determine how quickly you need to be seen and whether in-office care or emergency treatment offers the safest option. Clear communication allows us to coordinate care efficiently and reduce unnecessary delays. We save time in our daily schedule for eye emergencies and will make every effort to get you into the office promptly.
If symptoms occur after hours, an on-call provider can help determine whether you should come in urgently or seek emergency care.
Protect your eye while you wait for instructions. Don't rub your eye or apply pressure. Don't attempt to remove any object embedded in the eye. Bring a list of current medications and be prepared to explain how and when symptoms started.
When to Go Straight to the ER
Some eye emergencies require immediate emergency care without delay:
- Major eye or facial trauma from car accidents or penetrating injuries
- Sudden, complete loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Severe chemical burns when immediate ophthalmic care is not accessible
Why Choose Us For Urgent Eye Care
Galiani Ophthalmology Associates has served Central Bucks County since 1984 and continues a long-standing tradition of excellence in eye care. Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. David Galiani brings more than 25 years of high-level ophthalmology experience and assumed leadership of the practice in 2006.
Dr. Galiani has published extensively in medical journals and textbooks and has presented research at international ophthalmology conferences. As a renowned eye surgeon, he applies the same precision, clinical judgment, and depth of experience to emergency eye care.
Our Doylestown and Reading offices feature advanced diagnostic technology, digital imaging, and laser-assisted systems that support timely, accurate decision-making. Patients value our personalized approach, calm environment, and commitment to the highest standards of ophthalmic medicine during urgent and stressful situations.
