Foreign objects or stabbing pains in your eye? Don’t wait!
Eye Emergencies in University Place
Experiencing a stab of pain in your eye?
Sudden changes in vision? Images appearing faded, blurry or foggy?
Got chemicals or another foreign object or substance in your eye?
Come visit Memorial Eye Center - Rice Village for emergency eye care.
Our University Place optometrists can help you preserve your vision and eye health.
We understand that accidents happen.
Our optometrists know exactly what to do to help you through your eye care emergency.
Whether it’s a workplace accident, an at-home incident, or some other emergency requiring immediate attention, we’re here to help you preserve your eye health and sight!
What To Do If You Have an Eye Emergency
First things first. Don’t panic! Staying calm is the best way to help you think straight and help those around you to remain calm. Often, it’s not necessary to go to an emergency room for eye emergencies. In fact, the vast majority of people who go to the emergency room for eye care could have received treatment from their local optometrist instead.
If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing an eye emergency, give us a call immediately! Delay may increase the risk of serious complications and may result in vision loss.
Until you see your eye doctor or seek urgent care, avoid the following:
- Don’t try to remove an embedded object out of your eye
- If your eye is injured, don’t press on it or rub it
- Dry cotton and sharp instruments such as tweezers should never be used on the eye.
Whether you’ve had a workplace accident or an at-home incident, our eye doctors are here to help
Eye Emergencies FAQs
Eye emergencies are anything that may cause permanent damage to your eyes or vision without timely intervention from an eye care professional.
The most common types of eye emergencies include:
- A blow, poke or other trauma to the eye
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Chemical spills in the eye
- Foreign object embedded in the eye
- Sudden appearance of light flashes or floaters
- Contact lens lost in the eye
Symptoms of an eye infection typically include itching, burning, redness, crusty and watery eyes. See a University Place eye doctor if your symptoms last over 4 days or if you experience intense pain, redness, blurred vision or light sensitivity.
Most of the time, a person can easily remove debris from the eye by repeatedly blinking to get the debris out. If that doesn’t work, you can wash your eye with saline (sterile salt water) to flush out any dust and dirt from your eye, or use streaming tap water.
However, you may scratch your cornea while attempting to get an object out which can cause further sight-threatening complications.
So the best thing you can do in this kind of eye emergency is to get to your eye doctor in University Place as soon as possible.
Meet our Eye Doctors
Yasmine Sanaei O.D.
Languages:
English, Farsi
Yasmine Sanaei, O.D. received her Doctor of Optometry from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2022 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Houston in 2017. While working for an optometrist during her…
Zubin Chacko O.D.
Language:
English
Zubin Chacko, OD, received his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO) in 2017, where he was honored with a Clinical Letter of Excellence and chosen as the student graduation commencement speaker by…
Patient Reviews
4.5
66 Reviews
Cora W. - Jun 19, 2026
I've always struggled with putting anything in my eyes- previous doctors have given up on giving me ... Show Moreeye drops because I had a hard time getting my eyes to stop closing automatically. I decided to try contacts for the first time but was unsure I'd be able to get them in. Emily was extremely patient and helpful, taking much longer than was allotted to help me figure it out.
Marcia L. - Jun 14, 2026
Gary, Richard and the girls are helpful and pleasant and dog friendly. Dr Chacko is also a wonderful... Show More optometrist.
Have an eye emergency?
Protect your vision by contacting Memorial Eye Center - Rice Village in University Place without delay!