According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, approximately 200 Canadians sustain a workplace injury that requires emergency eye care every day. Protective eyewear is a key prevention step designed to shield eyes from contaminants that are common in environments that are prone to dust, chemicals, and other hazardous materials in the air, including the construction sites, manufacturing plants, medical labs and more. By being diligent about safety on the job you can mitigate your need for emergency visits to your eye doctor in Woodbridge. However, even despite our best efforts sometimes workplace injuries occur, and when they do it’s imperative that you seek emergency eye care at a trusted and experienced optometrist near you.
Dr. Brian Abrams and our team of eye care specialists are here to help you in the event of an emergency with thorough care to preserve your vision and health. Read on to learn more about what constitutes an eye emergency and how to respond.
Chemical Splashes
Chemicals are prevalent in the workplace even if you don’t view your surroundings as immediately hazardous, even the typical office will typically have chlorine bleach or other cleaning agents stored on-site. Chemical contact with the eye can cause burns to the cornea and skin, leading to significant eye irritation and even damage if not addressed properly. After flushing your eye with water, contact your eye doctor in Woodbridge immediately for emergency care. The sooner you intervene, the better you’ll be able to minimize the effects of the chemical.
Foreign Object in Eye
Depending on your environment, anything from metal shavings to dust and wood chips can enter the eye and get stuck. Once lodged in the eye, foreign objects may be difficult to detect but they quickly cause pain and irritation. If not removed and treated quickly these foreign objects have the potential to damage the cornea and cause eye infections. Anytime an object gets stuck in your eye, it’s best to visit your eye doctor for emergency eye care. If you’re not sure whether there is a foreign body in your eye, pay attention to signs like sharp pains, scratching sensations, blurred vision, or light sensitivity.
Eye Flash Burns
Typically when welding or other scenarios when you’re exposed to intense light or ultraviolet light, you may not feel the physical implications, until some hours afterward, which can make connecting your eye pain or discomfort to the job more difficult. The signs of eye flash burns include soreness, extreme light sensitivity, redness, and watery eyes. Even if you don’t feel the effects of an injury while on the job, seek out medical care urgently from your eye doctor in Woodbridge.
Dryness & Itchiness
In factories, warehouses, and construction sites, extreme dry eyes or eye irritation is common. Since a foreign object is not identifiable when the cause of dry eyes is dust or pollen, many people don’t follow their symptoms with a visit to the optometrist office. Dust in the workplace is often contaminated with bacteria or other contaminants like silica or asbestos, so when dry eyes become a recurring problem, a visit to your eye doctor can make a significant difference in your eye health, slowing the progression of infections early and stopping eye damage.
Visit Dr. Brian Abrams in Woodbridge, Vaughan
When eye emergencies occur, give them the attention they need, seeking guidance and care from a trusted eye doctor near you like Dr. Brian Abrams. With more than 20 years of experience, advanced eye care technology, and expert medical teams on staff, you can rely on comprehensive and reliable emergency eye care in Woodbridge to minimize damage to your eyes.
