Emergency Service

When you need a doctor now...

Dr. Ross provides 24 hour emergency service to his patients. If you are having an eye medical emergency during normal office hours then call us immediately. If you are have a medical concern outside normal office hours Dr Ross can be reached by dialing 918- 279-8830 and pressing number seven while listening to the message. Instructions are also reviewed by our general telephone message.

Some common eye injuries, such as deep puncture wounds from accidents, could require immediate treatment or surgery to prevent permanent eye damage resulting in vision loss.

Minor surface scratches, on the other hand, may need only simple monitoring after an initial visit to see Dr Ross to make sure complications such as eye infections don’t occur.

This guide to common eye injuries can help you determine your next step following an accident, especially if you are in an emergency situation. Remember also that common sense safety precautions such as wearing safety goggles or glasses may be your best approach to preventing eye injuries altogether and maintaining healthy vision for a lifetime.

Common conditions associated with eye injury and trauma include:

Scratched Eye (Corneal Abrasion)

There are a number of common actions that can lead to surface abrasions – otherwise known as “Corneal Abrasions” – on your eye and those include getting jabbed, or rubbing the eye excessively or vigorously when a foreign body like dirt is present. Such an abrasion can be very uncomfortable and oftentimes leads to light sensitivity, among other things.

These abrasions can also make your eye more susceptible to infection from bacterial or fungal interaction. This occurs when fungus or bacteria enters the deeper ocular tissue through an opening in the surface caused by the abrasion. Such an infection can result in serious harm, even blindness, if not addressed in a timely manner. This problem is exacerbated if the object causing the abrasion happened to be dirty.

An overlooked cause of ocular surface abrasion is brief contact experienced when you bump into something that makes contact with your face/eye region, or when a persons hand accidentally glances across your eye. If you suddenly develop an eye infection or experience inexplicable sensitivity to light, you should try to recall any recent instances where something may have come into contact with your face.

If you determine that your eye has been scratched, avoid any compulsion to rub it. Covering it with a bandage or patch is equally problematic. Bacteria thrive in dark, warm places, so covering your eye with a tight fitting treatment would be an invitation for trouble. Keep the eye closed or loosely covered by a shield that allows light and air to pass through it, such as a cup. If you are uncertain about how to dress the wound, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Ross immediately. Additional examination may be needed in order to determine the extent of the injury.

Penetrating or Foreign Objects in the Eye

If a foreign body, like a fish hook, or some other sharp object penetrates your eye, we strongly advise you to contact us immediately. Attempting to remove something that has pierced the ocular tissue will undoubtedly cause far more damage than the original injury alone. Cover it with a paper cup or cupped hand and seek professional help without fail. The quicker you receive medical attention, the better your chances will be of minimizing the long term damage associated with the injury.

Another risk involves small foreign bodies, oftentimes metal shaving, becoming embedded in the ocular surface. If dealt with in an efficient manner, these particles typically don’t penetrate the outer surface, but can develop a rust ring or produce significant scarring on your eye.

Caustic Foreign Substance in the Eye (Chemical Burn)

Getting a foreign substance in your eye can cause a lot of problems, depending on the chemical makeup of the liquid, or semi-solid. Water is practically the only PH neutral liquid that offers any reprieve from pain and/or damage to the eye. Here are a few to avoid at all costs;

Acid

Depending on their level of acidity, some acids can serve as a mild irritant or cause severe pain and permanent damage to your eye / vision. Fortunately, all acids can be diluted and dissolved with a sufficient amount of water, so the quicker you can flush your eyes out after coming into contact with acid, the better.

Alkali

Basic chemicals, more commonly referred to as “Alkalis”, are actually more threatening than acids. Most people fail to realize this, since acids can cause more immediate pain. Alkali burns typically come from things like oven, or toilet bowl cleaners and are often transferred mistakenly from a soiled hand to the eye.

If you happen to get an alkali substance in your eye, immediately find a faucet and let mildly warm water wash over your eyes and face for 15 minutes, then contact Dr. Ross’ office to determine what additional action is needed. The staff member on the phone will likely want to know what type of substance you encountered, along with the actions you took to remedy the problem

If your eyes are especially red, or your vision blurry, once you have rinsed them out for 15 minutes, forego calling our office and come see Dr. Ross immediately. It is perfectly fine to use a cold, moist compress or ice pack, but do not rub your eyes. Depending on the chemical you came into contact with, the effects can range from mild irritation to blindness, which is why it’s important to act quickly if you come into contact with any substance of this nature.

Eye Swelling

Eye swelling is most commonly caused by blunt force trauma to the general eye region. An example of this could be a thrown ball or fist coming into contact with your eye. The best course of action for treating an injury of this sort would be any type of cold compress or ice pack. The results are most often a black eye (bruising), and while a black eye is typically not cause for concern, it’s still advisable to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ross to ensure that no other complications occur as a result of the injury.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhages (Eye Bleeding)

The most noticeable symptom of a Subconjunctival hemorrhage involves blood leakage on or around the eye. It’s easy to understand why this is cause for much concern, but it’s important to understand that there’s no need to panic, as it usually looks worse than it actually is.

An injury like this is quite common and may come about from even minor injury to the eye. The hemorrhaging might be confined to a small area of the eye, or occur across the surface, which can lead to an eye appearing as bright red. Do not worry though. A Subconjunctival hemorrhage is painless and will not cause any type of vision loss. The redness will usually clear up after only a few weeks and no specific treatment is required for this type of injury, but it’s still advisable to visit Dr. Ross for an evaluation so that he may confirm the diagnosis.

Traumatic Iritis

Traumatic Iritis occurs when the colored part of your eye that surrounds the pupil becomes inflamed, typically as a result of an eye injury. Some type of blow from a hard, blunt object often brings about trauma like this and usually requires treatment. Even with treatment, however, there is a risk of your vision becoming permanently compromised.

Hyphemas and Orbital Blowout Fractures

Hyphemas (high-FEE-mah) are described as bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye, (the space between the cornea and the iris). Orbital blowout fractures are cracks or breaks in the facial bones surrounding the eye, such as the orbital bone.

These types of injuries are very serious and rightfully characterized as medical emergencies. Any severe blunt force trauma applied to the upper facial region can bring about injuries like this and must be treated with immediate attention from a medical professional.

Steps To Take in Case of Eye Injury

Dr. Ross provides 24 hour emergency service to his patients. If you are having an eye medical emergency during normal office hours then call us immediately. If you are have a medical concern outside normal office hours Dr Ross can be reached by dialing 918- 279-8830 and pressing number seven while listening to the message. Instructions are also reviewed by our general telephone message.

​​​​​​​Treat all eye injuries as potential emergencies, and never hesitate to contact us immediately. Don’t take risks with your eyesight. Remember, you have only one pair of eyes.