​​​​If you have a non-emergency eye problem such as soreness, redness, new flashes, floaters, visual disturbances or a minor eye injury you can be seen quickly by a local eye care service. This information about local eye care services gives details of services near you.

Some eye problems and injuries can cause permanent sight loss. If you have any of the following, go to your local accident and emergency (A&E) department where you will be seen by an emergency eye doctor.

If your eye has been seriously injured, it will need to be checked by an eye doctor and you may need an operation. Without treatment an injury could lead to sight loss so it is important to get medical help at once.
If an object has gone into your eye, or into the area around your eye, do not try to remove it. Cover the area with something solid, such as the bottom of a plastic cup, to protect it and seek medical help immediately.

The NHS has more information about eye injuries on its website.

Common activities like DIY, cleaning with chemicals and hedge trimming can cause damage if objects or substances get into your eyes. If you are doing something that could result in an eye injury make sure you wear protective eyewear.

If you do get an object such as a speck of metal in your eye, flush the eye with water to try and dislodge it. If this does not work, or if you are not sure if the object has come out or not, close the eye, lightly bandage and seek medical help.

If you get a substance such as a cleaning product in your eye, flush the eye with water immediately and continue to do this for at least fifteen minutes. Do not bandage and see an eye care professional immediately.

Sudden sight loss can be caused by a number of eye problems which can be serious if left untreated. If you experience sudden sight loss you need to get this checked quickly. Sudden sight loss could be caused by:

  • a detached retina - symptoms include flashing lights or spots, or floating spots - there is more information about detached retina on the medical retina page
  • stroke, nerve damage or other neurological problems
  • temporal arteritis - this is where the arteries that supply blood to the head and brain become inflamed or damaged. Symptoms include pain in the temples, headache, pain after chewing, hip pain and fever combined with blurred vision
  • corneal swelling or infection link to section in cornea – this can also cause sudden vision loss.

Anisocoria is when your eyes’ pupils are not the same size. Some people are born with anisocoria. If it develops suddenly though, get it checked by an eye care professional. It can be a symptom of a number of eye conditions, some of which are serious.

Exophthalmos is the medical term for bulging eyes. It can be caused by a number of conditions including:

  • an injury to the eye socket or abnormal blood vessels behind the eye
  • a thyroid problem
  • inflammation or tumours
  • bacterial infections – this is a serious issue. If not treated properly, an infection in the eyelid can spread to the brain and become sight-threatening.

All About Vision has more information about exophthalmos (bulging eyes) on its website.