Eye Injury at Urgent Care: What Can Be Treated (vs. ER)

Eye injuries can be alarming, but not all of them require an emergency room visit. Knowing which eye injuries can be treated at urgent care — and which are true emergencies — can save you time and money while ensuring you get the right level of care.

Eye Injuries Urgent Care Can Treat

CityHealth San Leandro can evaluate and treat the following eye injuries:

• Corneal abrasion (scratched eye): A scratch on the surface of the eye caused by contact lens misuse, foreign object, fingernail, or accidental poke. Causes intense pain, light sensitivity, and tearing. Treated with antibiotic eye drops and sometimes a short-course pain-relieving drop.
• Foreign body in the eye: Dust, sand, metal shavings, or other small particles on the cornea or conjunctiva. A provider can examine under a slit lamp and remove the object. A rust ring from a metallic foreign body may require specialist referral.
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage: A bright red patch on the white of the eye caused by a burst blood vessel — often from eye rubbing, coughing, or minor trauma. Looks alarming but usually resolves on its own in 1–2 weeks. Urgent care can confirm no underlying injury.
• Eyelid laceration: A cut to the eyelid that may require sutures. Urgent care can repair superficial lid lacerations. Lacerations involving the lid margin or tear duct require ophthalmologist referral.
• Mild chemical splash: Household cleaners or mild chemicals in the eye require immediate flushing. After thorough irrigation (15–20 minutes of saline flush), urgent care can evaluate for corneal damage.
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) after eye injury: Infection that develops following a minor eye injury.

Eye Emergencies: Go to the ER Immediately

The following eye injuries are medical emergencies. Do not go to urgent care — go directly to the nearest emergency room or call 911:

• Penetrating eye injury: Something impaled in the eye or a cut that penetrates the eyeball. Do not remove the object — stabilize and go to the ER.
• Chemical burn (alkali or acid): Strong acids (battery acid) or alkalis (ammonia, bleach, drain cleaner) can permanently damage the eye within minutes. Flush immediately and go to the ER.
• Blunt trauma with vision changes: Being struck in the eye with force (fist, ball, airbag). Risk of orbital fracture, hyphema (blood in the eye), or retinal detachment.
• Sudden vision loss or vision changes: Any sudden decrease in vision, double vision, or loss of peripheral vision after an eye injury requires ER evaluation.
• Hyphema: Blood visible in the front chamber of the eye (between the cornea and iris) — a serious sign of eye trauma.

If in doubt, err on the side of going to the ER. Eye injuries can worsen rapidly and untreated damage may be permanent.

What to Do While Getting to Care

If you have an eye injury, here is what to do while getting to urgent care or the ER:

• Do not rub the eye — rubbing can worsen a corneal abrasion or drive a foreign body deeper
• For chemical exposure: Begin flushing immediately with clean water or saline, before leaving for care. Keep flushing in the car if possible.
• For an impaled object: Do not remove it. Cup your hand over the eye without pressing, and get to the ER.
• Wear protective eyewear if driving — some patients find bright light unbearable after eye injuries
• Call ahead to let CityHealth or the ER know what happened so they can prepare

Eye Injury Prevention

The majority of eye injuries are preventable. High-risk activities and appropriate protection include:

• Power tools and grinding: Always wear safety glasses or goggles — flying metal particles are a leading cause of eye injuries
• Contact sports: Eye guards or protective goggles during racquet sports, basketball, and martial arts
• Household chemicals: Wear safety goggles when mixing or spraying cleaning chemicals, especially in confined spaces
• Lawn and garden equipment: Flying debris from mowers and trimmers are a common cause of eye injuries — wear eye protection
• Fireworks: Keep a safe distance and leave professional fireworks to trained handlers

Frequently Asked Questions: Eye Injury at Urgent Care

Can urgent care treat a scratched eye (corneal abrasion)?
Yes. Corneal abrasions are one of the most common eye injuries treated at urgent care. Your provider can examine the eye under magnification, confirm the abrasion size, and prescribe antibiotic drops to prevent infection. Most corneal abrasions heal within 24–72 hours.

Can urgent care remove a foreign object from the eye?
Yes, for surface-level foreign bodies (dust, sand, metal fragments on the conjunctiva or cornea). Using a slit lamp and specialized instruments, the provider can safely remove the particle. If a rust ring is left behind from a metallic foreign body, referral to an ophthalmologist may be needed.

What if I have blood in my eye after an injury?
Visible blood in the white part (subconjunctival hemorrhage) is usually harmless and can be evaluated at urgent care. Blood visible in the clear front portion (hyphema) is a more serious sign and requires ER evaluation.