Urgent Care Eye Exam Near Me — What CityHealth Can Treat in San Leandro

Searching for an urgent care eye exam near you? Eye problems rarely wait for a scheduled appointment. Whether you woke up with a red, swollen eye or got something stuck in your eye at work, CityHealth in San Leandro provides fast, walk-in eye care for a wide range of non-emergency eye conditions — no ophthalmologist referral needed.

This guide covers what urgent care can do for your eyes, what CityHealth treats, when to visit the ER instead, and how to get seen quickly at our San Leandro clinic.

Can Urgent Care Do an Eye Exam?

Yes — urgent care clinics can perform eye exams for many common and acute conditions. This is different from a routine vision check or a glasses/contacts prescription exam done by an optometrist. An urgent care eye exam focuses on diagnosing and treating sudden-onset eye problems: infections, irritation, inflammation, minor injuries, and foreign bodies in the eye.

CityHealth providers are trained to evaluate eye complaints, perform basic eye assessments (visual acuity, external eye inspection, slit-lamp exam when indicated), and prescribe medications such as antibiotic eye drops when appropriate. For most eye infections and minor injuries, you do not need to wait days for an ophthalmologist — urgent care is the right first stop.

What Eye Conditions Does CityHealth Treat?

CityHealth San Leandro sees a broad range of eye-related complaints. Here is what our providers can diagnose and treat:

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common reasons people search for an urgent care eye exam. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergens. Bacterial pink eye typically requires antibiotic eye drops. Viral pink eye is contagious and managed with supportive care. Allergic conjunctivitis responds to antihistamine drops. Our providers will identify the type and recommend the right treatment so you can get back to work or school faster.

Eye Infections

Beyond standard pink eye, bacterial infections can affect other parts of the eye, including the eyelid (stye or hordeolum) and the tissue around the eye (periorbital cellulitis). Early treatment with antibiotics is important to prevent spread. CityHealth urgent care can evaluate these infections and start treatment the same day.

Foreign Objects in the Eye

If you have a speck of dirt, metal shaving, sawdust, or other debris in your eye, do not rub it. Come in for an urgent care eye exam. Our providers can irrigate the eye and safely remove superficial foreign bodies. If the object has penetrated the eye, we will refer you immediately to an emergency room or ophthalmologist.

Eye Injuries

Minor blunt trauma to the eye — from a ball, a door, or a fall — can cause a subconjunctival hemorrhage (red spot on the white of the eye), corneal abrasion, or swelling around the eye. CityHealth can assess the severity, rule out more serious injuries, and provide appropriate care. We will refer you to a higher level of care if there is any concern about deeper structural damage.

Chemical Exposure

If a cleaning product, pool chemical, or other substance splashes into your eye, rinse immediately with clean water for at least 15 minutes, then come to CityHealth San Leandro right away. Chemical eye injuries require urgent irrigation and evaluation. Note: if you are exposed to a strong acid or alkali (like drain cleaner or bleach), call 911 or go to the ER.

Styes and Eyelid Inflammation

A stye is a painful, red bump along the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland or bacterial infection. CityHealth can evaluate styes, recommend warm compress therapy, and prescribe topical or oral antibiotics if there are signs of infection.

Dry Eye and Eye Irritation

Severe eye dryness, burning, or irritation — especially after extended screen time, smoke exposure, or allergies — can be evaluated at urgent care. We can recommend appropriate over-the-counter or prescription drops and rule out an underlying infection.

Urgent Care Eye Exam vs. ER vs. Optometrist — Which Do You Need?

Knowing where to go saves time and money. Here is a simple breakdown:

Go to the Emergency Room (ER) if you have:

• Sudden loss of vision or significant vision change
• Eye pain after a high-speed impact (car accident, projectile)
• A penetrating or puncture wound to the eye
• Chemical burn from a strong acid or base
• Signs of a retinal detachment: sudden flashes, floaters, or a “curtain” over your vision
• Double vision accompanied by headache, dizziness, or neurological symptoms

Go to Urgent Care (CityHealth San Leandro) if you have:

• Pink eye or eye discharge
• A minor eye infection or stye
• A foreign body (that has not penetrated the eye)
• Minor blunt trauma without vision loss
• Chemical splash (after initial irrigation at home)
• Eye irritation, redness, or swelling with no vision loss
• A corneal abrasion (scratch on the eye surface)

See an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist if you need:

• A routine vision exam or prescription update
• New glasses or contact lenses
• Management of chronic eye conditions (glaucoma, macular degeneration)
• Scheduled follow-up for a previously diagnosed eye condition

According to the CDC, approximately 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year. Most of these do not require emergency room care — urgent care is often the faster and more cost-effective option for non-life-threatening eye conditions.

What to Expect at a CityHealth Urgent Care Eye Exam in San Leandro

Visiting CityHealth for an urgent care eye exam is straightforward. Here is what the process looks like:

1. Check In: Walk in or book online at care.cityhealth.com/book-appointment. Bring a valid ID and insurance card. We accept most major insurance plans.
2. Intake: A medical assistant will take your vital signs and ask about your symptoms — when they started, how severe they are, whether you have had eye problems before, and any medications or contacts you use.
3. Provider Evaluation: A CityHealth provider will examine your eye. This includes checking visual acuity (reading chart), inspecting the external eye and eyelid, looking for discharge or foreign bodies, and assessing your pupils.
4. Diagnosis and Treatment: Based on the exam findings, the provider will diagnose your condition and prescribe treatment — this may include antibiotic drops, oral antibiotics, eye irrigation, or a referral if needed.
5. Discharge Instructions: You will leave with clear instructions on how to use any prescribed medication, when to follow up, and warning signs that should prompt a return visit or ER visit.

Most visits for common eye complaints are completed in under an hour. CityHealth San Leandro is open 7 days a week, including evenings, so you can be seen when your eye problem happens — not when your regular doctor has an opening.

Insurance and Cost for Urgent Care Eye Exams

CityHealth accepts most major insurance plans, including MediCal, Medicare, and many commercial plans. If you are paying out of pocket, urgent care eye exams are significantly less expensive than ER visits for the same condition. Call ahead or check our insurance page if you have questions about coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions