When an Eye Emergency Strikes, Call Us Immediately

At Total Vision Hercules, formerly Hercules Optometry Group, we know that when it comes to eye emergencies, you can’t simply “walk it off.” In many cases, these emergencies can lead to serious vision damage or complete blindness if left untreated. If you or someone you know is experiencing an eye emergency, please call our team immediately for help.

If your emergency occurs outside our regular office hours, please visit your nearest emergency room.

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Common Eye Emergencies

Every emergency is different, but it’s important to understand what to do in these situations while you wait for help to arrive. Before performing any first aid, please contact our team. We can provide help until our optometrists can inspect your situation more closely.

Some common eye emergencies include:

Physical Trauma

Physical trauma is any blunt force impact you sustain to the eye or surrounding area. When this happens, you may experience swelling, bruising, eye pain, or bleeding.

In this situation, place a cold compress on the affected and call our team for help.

Chemical Exposure

Chemical exposure can cause immediate pain and even permanent damage. Whenever you’re using chemicals like chlorine, bleach, ammonia, pesticides, vinegar, or even soap, please be aware of the danger and take necessary precautions.

In a chemical exposure situation, flush your eyes out with cool, clean water for at least 15 minutes, and call us immediately.

Cuts, Tears, & Punctures

Cuts, tears, and punctures are some of the most serious emergencies you can experience. We usually recommend going to an emergency room in these situations.

If this happens to someone you know, cover the eye with an eye shield (like a paper cup) and call emergency services. Do not apply pressure to the eye.

Foreign Object

Foreign objects can include tiny dust or dirt particles, wood shavings, and metal debris. In these situations, you may be able to remove the particle by blinking or using eye drops, but if the object remains in your eye, please call us for assistance.

Eye Disease

Certain eye diseases, like wet age-related macular degeneration or closed-angle glaucoma, can happen suddenly and lead to rapid vision loss. If you have a risk of developing eye disease and suddenly experience symptoms like pain, nausea, blurry vision, or vision loss, please contact our team immediately.

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Where to Find Us

You can find us on the first floor of Aventine Apartments right on Sycamore Avenue. Find angled parking right outside with accessibility options available.