Eye Exams - Emergency Eye Care Services Sherwood Park
Cost: Paid by Alberta Health Care*
Unfortunately, eye emergencies happen. If you are ever in a situation where you require urgent eye care from one of our optometrists, please call us as soon as possible at 780.467.3341. All eye emergency visits are paid for by Alberta Health Care*, meaning there is no cost to see an optometrist.
If your eye emergency is a little less serious but still an urgent problem like a lost contact lens or a broken pair of eyeglasses, let us know, and we'll try to make it right. Obviously, these types of emergencies are not covered by Alberta Health Care.
Common eye emergencies we can help you with:
Red eyes or painful eyes
Blurred vision
Eye infections like pink eye
Itchy allergic eyes
Floaters in your vision – retinal detachment symptoms
Flashes of light
Eye pain
Watery eyes
Chemical exposure
Dry eyes
Decreased vision
Loss of vision in one or both eyes
Diabetic eye problems
A foreign object stuck in the eye – metal, wood, fibreglass, etc.
Eye injuries – cuts, scratches, chemical burns, etc.
Contact lens eye infections
Stuck or dislodged contact lens
Tele-Optometry Services
Tele-Optometry are now covered by Alberta Health Care. If you live out of town, and want to speak with one of our eye doctors before coming into see us, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our staff will take down your information, and one of our doctors will call you back as soon as possible to help triage your situation.
Urgent & after-hours eye emergencies - Royal Alex Hospital
If your eye emergency occurs after hours and requires immediate medical attention, then please proceed directly to the Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency room.
You can also call Health Link Alberta and speak with a registered nurse who may be able to manage your eye emergency concerns over the phone.
How much does an emergency eye care visit cost?
If you have Alberta Health Care,, there is no direct cost to you to see an optometrist for an eye care emergency. However, please be aware that Alberta Health Care does not cover second opinions, in which case standard professional fees apply. If you do not have Alberta Health Care, regular fees apply.
Common Signs & Symptoms of Eye Emergencies:
Red Painful eyes
Red, painful eyes are the number one reason patients book an emergency eye exam with our optometrists. With so many causes for red eyes, an optometrist must get an accurate diagnosis to ensure appropriate treatment.
Red eyes can result from bacterial or viral infections, seasonal allergies (see below), inflammatory conditions of the eye and body, and inflammatory dry eye syndrome (see below).
Seeing new Floaters
Seeing new floaters or dark spots in your vision might be an early warning sign of a retinal detachment. Retinal detachments are considered a true ocular emergency. It's crucial that you book a consultation with your eye doctor within 24-48 hours.
Your optometrist will do a complete eye health evaluation, including a dilated retinal examination to rule out signs of retinal tears.
Thankfully, 85% of new floaters result from a Posterior Vitreal Detachment (PVD), a benign ocular condition with no visual consequences. 15% of the time, new floaters may indicate a retinal tear or detachment.
Seasonal Allergies
Every year, we see hundreds of patients with seasonal allergies. Over-the-counter medications and lubricating eye drops might provide some temporary relief. However, prescription allergy medications or anti-inflammatory medications are often still required. Please don't suffer from swollen, itchy, irritated allergy eyes all summer long. We would be happy to work with you to find comfort, relief and a way for you to wear your contact lenses.
Inflammatory Dry Eye Syndrome
You may suffer from dry eye syndrome if your eyes are red, inflamed and irritated. Symptoms often include eyes that don't tear, generalized eye redness, pain or soreness when you blink and fluctuating or reduced visual acuity. Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops usually provide temporary relief. We can help you determine the underlying cause of dry eye and recommend specific treatment regimes to help alleviate your symptoms. Treatment may involve lid hygiene, preservative-free lubricating eye drops, and dry eye medications.
