Urgent care
Red eye and urgent eye care
A red, irritated or sticky eye is often something an optometrist can examine and treat the same way a family doctor would.
We look at the eye under the slit lamp, find out what is causing it, and treat it or send you to someone who can. Contact lens wearers: take your lenses out and call us.
Call us for
Redness, discharge or itching that has not gone away
A gritty feeling, or a feeling that something is in the eye
Eyelids that are swollen, crusted or sore
- Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
What happens at the visit
Most urgent visits are shorter than a full exam.
- 01
A call first
Tell the office what is going on. We tell you when we can see you, or where to go instead.
- 02
The exam
A slit lamp exam of the front of the eye, with a closer look under drops when needed.
- 03
Treatment
Drops, a care plan, or a referral. Results vary, and the doctor explains what to expect.
- 04
Follow-up
A recheck when it helps, and a call to your other doctors if they should know.
Billing and what to bring
How it is billed
An eye problem is a medical visit, so it is usually billed to medical insurance, not to a vision plan.
Which plan paysWhat to bring
Your glasses and contact lenses
The case and bottle of solution you use
Your insurance cards
A list of your medicines
The doctor who does it
Dr. Chakrabarty sees most red eye and urgent visits. Dr. Sanford sees them too.
Our doctors
Questions about red eye
Is a red eye an emergency?
Not always. Sudden vision loss, flashes, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury is. Call us right away or go to an emergency room.
Should I wear my contacts?
No. Take them out, wear your glasses and call us.
Will I get drops?
Sometimes. The doctor decides after the exam, and explains what each drop is for.
Call about a red eye
Call the office and tell us what is going on. We will tell you what to do next.