Eye Emergencies
If you are worried about a sudden eye or vision problem, do not wait and hope it resolves. The safest next step depends on your symptoms.
Go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately
Go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department (do not call an optometry office first) for any of the following:
- Sudden vision loss (painful or painless)
- A new dark curtain or shadow crossing your field of vision
- Severe eye pain with nausea or vomiting
- Major eye injury or possible penetration of the globe
- Any chemical splash to the eye
- Significant swelling around the eye with fever
Chemical exposure and foreign bodies
- Chemical splash: Start flushing your eye with clean water or saline solution immediately for at least 15 minutes, then go to the nearest emergency department.
- Possible penetrating injury / embedded object: Do not rub the eye or try to remove anything embedded in the eye. Keep the eye closed (or shield it if you can) and go to the nearest emergency department.
When to call or text us during office hours
Some urgent problems can often be assessed by our optometrists during our regular office hours.
Office hours (urgent requests):- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays
To request an urgent appointment, call or text us at 416-703-2797.
Examples of concerns that are typically appropriate to contact us about:
- New flashes of light or a sudden increase in floaters
- Red eye with pain, light sensitivity, or blurry vision
- Sudden double vision
- A foreign body sensation that will not settle
- New contact lens pain
What to provide when you call or text
When you contact us about an urgent eye issue, please be ready to share:
- Your main symptoms (for example: pain, redness, light sensitivity, blurry vision)
- When the symptoms started (onset time)
- Whether you were wearing contact lenses when the issue began
- Any recent trauma or exposure to chemicals or foreign materials
After-hours instructions
We do not provide on-site services outside of our regular 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekday hours.
If you experience a sight-threatening emergency after-hours, on a weekend, or during a holiday, proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario)
If you're not sure whether your symptoms need urgent medical care, you can call Health811 for 24/7 nurse advice.