St. Clair Eye Clinic is a trusted provider of emergency eye care services to preserve your vision during a perilous ocular event. We are an emergency referral clinic for University Health Network (UHN) and provide same-day or next-day treatment. We also arrange quick referrals for secondary and tertiary care as needed.
Call us immediately if you are experiencing an eye-related emergency. If our offices are closed, proceed to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible.
Sudden vision loss, intense pain, flashes of light, or eye trauma are not issues that can wait for a routine appointment. Prompt assessment helps protect vision, reduce the risk of permanent damage, and rule out serious underlying conditions.
Emergency eye care bridges the gap between primary care and the emergency room, offering targeted diagnostics and treatment from clinicians who specialize in the eyes.
Eye trauma from sports injuries, workplace accidents, falls, or blunt force to the face can affect internal eye structures and vision even when damage is not immediately visible. Prompt evaluation helps identify bleeding, pressure changes, or retinal concerns early, reducing the risk of lasting visual impairment.
Exposure to chemicals, cleaning agents, or industrial substances can quickly damage delicate eye tissues. Professional care ensures the eye is thoroughly flushed, damage is properly evaluated, and follow-up treatment is provided to support healing and prevent complications.
Corneal abrasions are scratches on the surface of the eye that cause sharp pain, redness, tearing, and light sensitivity. Timely care helps relieve discomfort, promote proper healing, and reduce the chance of scarring that could affect vision.
Foreign objects such as metal fragments, dust, or debris can become lodged in or on the eye. Professional removal protects the eye surface from further injury, reduces the risk of infection, and ensures that no hidden damage remains after the object is removed.
A sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or shadowed vision can signal changes inside the eye that need urgent attention. While some floaters are harmless, others may indicate retinal tears or detachment. Early evaluation helps determine the cause and guides timely treatment when needed.
Aside from the symptoms mentioned above, warning signs can include intense eye pain, a noticeable drop in vision, or a sudden change in how the eye looks or feels. These symptoms can develop quickly and may be linked to conditions such as injuries or pressure changes inside the eye. Redness, swelling, and discharge may indicate a serious infection that requires quick treatment to prevent complications.
Emergency eye care at St. Clair Eye Clinic is guided by experienced medical optometrists and supported by advanced diagnostic technology. Clinical leadership from Dr. Neel Vyas and Dr. Caroline Korkis brings decades of hands-on experience managing urgent and complex eye conditions, with a strong foundation in collaborative care alongside ophthalmology.
In emergency situations, precision matters. High-resolution imaging and in-depth testing allow our doctors to quickly assess the retina, optic nerve, and macula, identify time-sensitive risks, and determine whether immediate treatment or escalation is needed. This level of clinical clarity helps protect vision when every moment counts.
Emergency eye care focuses on stabilizing the issue, protecting vision, and determining what follow-up is required. Treatment is guided by the cause and severity of symptoms, with an emphasis on timely intervention and careful monitoring. Some conditions resolve quickly with prompt care, while others require ongoing management or referral. Common treatment and management approaches may include:
Realistic outcomes depend on how quickly care is received and the nature of the emergency. Early treatment often leads to full recovery, while more serious conditions benefit from rapid diagnosis and coordinated next steps.
An emergency eye visit is designed to be thorough, efficient, and focused on immediate concerns. From the moment you arrive, the goal is to identify the cause of symptoms quickly and determine the safest next steps.
What patients can typically expect includes:
Visit length varies based on the issue, but patients leave with clarity, a treatment plan, and direction on what to watch for after the visit.
If you experience sudden vision changes, eye pain, flashes, floaters, or an injury, seek professional eye care as soon as possible. Avoid rubbing the eye or attempting self-treatment. Prompt assessment helps reduce the risk of permanent damage and ensures the right next steps are taken quickly.
Urgent care clinics can help with basic issues, but they often lack specialized eye equipment and training. Many eye emergencies require detailed imaging and pressure testing that general urgent care centers are not equipped to provide.
Emergency rooms are appropriate for severe trauma, chemical burns, or injuries involving the face or head. However, ERs typically do not have eye-specific diagnostic tools. For many eye emergencies, specialized eye care offers faster, more targeted evaluation.
An ophthalmic emergency includes sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, chemical exposure, eye trauma, retinal symptoms, or infections that worsen quickly. These conditions require immediate attention to protect vision.
Go to the ER if there is significant trauma, penetrating injury, chemical exposure you cannot flush, or vision loss accompanied by neurological symptoms. Otherwise, urgent eye care is often the better first step.
Most eye hospitals and specialty clinics require referrals or scheduled urgent visits. Calling ahead helps ensure timely access and appropriate triage.
Conditions such as retinal detachment, acute infections, corneal injuries, chemical burns, and sudden pressure changes are all considered emergencies and should be evaluated immediately by an eye care professional.
Timing is everything if something feels wrong with your eyes, or if you or a loved one experiences an eye-related emergency. Contact St. Clair Eye Clinic as soon as possible to arrange prompt emergency eye care and get clear, medically focused guidance on what to do next.