Emergency Eye Care Center 24/7

When something goes wrong with your eyes, knowing where to turn and how quickly to act can mean the difference between full recovery and lasting vision loss.

Your Eyes Can't Wait. Neither Do We.

Eye emergencies don't follow a schedule, and the window for effective treatment is often measured in hours rather than days. At Boling Vision Center's Emergency Eye Care Center, we provide urgent and emergency eye care across all four of our Northern Indiana locations during business hours, with after-hours access available around the clock for situations that simply can't wait.

If you are experiencing an eye emergency, call us immediately or proceed to the nearest emergency room when the situation warrants it.

When to Seek Emergency Eye Care

Knowing which symptoms require immediate attention is one of the most important things any person can understand about their eye health. The following symptoms should always be treated as urgent and evaluated as soon as possible.

Seek Care Immediately

These symptoms warrant a same-day emergency evaluation without delay:

Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if temporary
Sudden onset of flashes of light, a significant increase in floaters, or a shadow or curtain moving across the visual field
Eye pain that is severe, sudden, or accompanied by nausea or headache
Chemical splash or exposure to any substance in the eye
A foreign body embedded in the eye or under the eyelid that cannot be flushed out
Significant blunt trauma to the eye or surrounding area
A visible cut, laceration, or penetrating injury to the eye or eyelid
Sudden double vision that is new or unexplained
A red, painful eye in a contact lens wearer
Significant eyelid swelling with warmth and redness extending beyond the lid

Go Directly to the Emergency Room

Some situations require emergency room evaluation rather than an eye care office visit. Go directly to the nearest emergency room if:

A penetrating or perforating eye injury is suspected
An object is embedded in the eye
A chemical exposure has occurred, and irrigation has been performed
Significant blood is visible inside the eye
The eye appears to have changed shape or has visible tissue protruding
The injury is accompanied by other significant trauma, or the person is unresponsive
It is outside of business hours, and the situation cannot safely wait

When in doubt, call us first. Our team can help you assess the urgency of your situation and direct you to the most appropriate level of care.

Emergency Conditions We Treat

At Boling Vision Center's Emergency Eye Care Center, we evaluate and manage the full range of urgent and emergency eye conditions.

Sudden Vision Changes

Sudden changes in vision, including unexplained vision loss, new floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow or curtain in the visual field, can signal serious conditions, including retinal detachment, retinal artery or vein occlusion, or vitreous hemorrhage. These conditions are time-sensitive and require prompt evaluation to determine the cause and initiate treatment before irreversible damage occurs.

Eye Injuries and Trauma

We manage the full spectrum of ocular trauma, including corneal abrasions, foreign body injuries, chemical exposures, blunt trauma, and eyelid lacerations. Prompt evaluation of eye injuries reduces the risk of infection, scarring, and permanent vision loss, and our team is experienced in managing injured and distressed patients with the calm, efficient care that urgent situations require.

For penetrating or perforating injuries requiring immediate surgical intervention, we coordinate urgent transfer to the appropriate surgical setting without delay.

Chemical Injuries

Chemical exposures are among the most time-sensitive eye emergencies. If a chemical splash has occurred, the immediate response is to flush the eye continuously with clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes before seeking care. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Alkaline substances in particular continue to penetrate and damage ocular tissue even after the initial exposure, making immediate, thorough irrigation the single most important first response.

After irrigation, call us or proceed to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency in which intraocular pressure rises rapidly, causing severe eye pain, headache, nausea, blurred vision, and halos around lights. Without prompt treatment, it can cause permanent vision loss within hours. If you experience this constellation of symptoms, seek emergency evaluation immediately.

Infectious and Inflammatory Conditions

Rapidly progressing eye infections, including bacterial keratitis, orbital cellulitis, and endophthalmitis, require urgent evaluation and treatment. Signs of a serious ocular infection include significant pain, redness, discharge, reduced vision, and eyelid swelling.

Contact lens wearers with a red, painful eye should always seek same-day evaluation, as contact lens-related corneal infections can progress rapidly and cause permanent corneal damage. Acute uveitis and other inflammatory conditions that flare suddenly and severely also warrant prompt evaluation to prevent structural damage and vision loss.

Retinal Emergencies

Retinal detachment, retinal artery occlusion, and vitreous hemorrhage are all conditions that require urgent evaluation and, in many cases, rapid intervention. Symptoms including sudden vision loss, a new curtain or shadow in the visual field, or a dramatic increase in floaters should never be attributed to fatigue or dismissed without evaluation.

Corneal Emergencies

Severe corneal infections, significant corneal trauma, and recurrent corneal erosion episodes that are causing acute pain and light sensitivity are all conditions we manage urgently. The cornea's health is fundamental to visual clarity, and conditions that threaten it require prompt, appropriate treatment.

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What to Expect at an Emergency Visit

When you arrive at Boling Vision Center for an urgent or emergency eye concern, you will be triaged and seen as quickly as possible. Our team understands that eye emergencies are frightening, and we approach every urgent visit with the calm, efficient care and genuine attentiveness that distressed guests deserve.

Evaluation

Emergency eye evaluations at Boling Vision Center are comprehensive and targeted to the presenting concern. Depending on the nature of the emergency, your evaluation may include assessment of visual acuity, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment, measurement of intraocular pressure, dilated examination of the retina and optic nerve, corneal imaging, and other diagnostic studies relevant to the specific condition.

Treatment and Next Steps

Where treatment can be initiated at the time of the emergency visit, it will be. This may include the removal of a foreign body, irrigation of a chemical injury, initiation of antibiotic or anti-inflammatory therapy, or other appropriate interventions.

When the situation requires a level of care beyond what can be provided in the office, including surgical intervention or hospital-based management, we facilitate that transition promptly and communicate clearly with the receiving team.

Every guest seen for an emergency concern receives clear instructions for what to do next, who to contact if symptoms change, and when to return for follow-up. We don't consider the emergency visit complete until the guest and their family understand what happened, what was done, and what to watch for.

After Hours & 24/7 Emergency Access

Eye emergencies don't respect business hours, and Boling Vision Center's commitment to our guests doesn't either.

After-Hours Phone Access

For urgent eye concerns outside of regular business hours, an on-call provider is accessible by phone around the clock. Calling our main number after hours will connect you with our after-hours answering service, which will reach the on-call provider for triage and guidance.

Our on-call team can assess the urgency of your situation, provide first-aid guidance, advise on whether the situation warrants an emergency room visit, and arrange for you to be seen at the earliest available opportunity when the situation can safely wait until the office opens.

When to Call vs. When to Go Directly to the ER

If you are experiencing a suspected penetrating eye injury, a chemical exposure, or any situation involving severe pain and sudden vision loss in the middle of the night, go directly to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting to reach our on-call team. For situations that are urgent but not immediately life- or sight-threatening, calling our after-hours line first allows us to guide you to the most appropriate next step.

Follow-Up After an ER Visit

If you have been seen at a hospital emergency room for an eye concern and need follow-up care with an eye specialist, Boling Vision Center is available to provide that continuity. We see post-ER eye patients promptly and coordinate with the treating ER team to ensure that ongoing management is appropriate and complete.

Why Choose Boling Vision Center for Emergency Eye Care?

When an eye emergency strikes, you need a team with the expertise, equipment, and genuine urgency to respond appropriately. At Boling Vision Center, our emergency eye care is backed by four Northern Indiana locations, an on-call provider available around the clock, and the full clinical depth of a comprehensive ophthalmology practice that manages everything from corneal emergencies to retinal conditions and complex trauma. With over 65 years of trusted community care, we're the practice Northern Indiana turns to when it matters most. Amazing happens here.

woman smiling | abstract art | binocular eyepieces of a slit lamp

Frequently Asked Questions Emergency Eye Care Center 24/7

How do I know if my eye emergency is serious enough to be seen right away?

When in doubt, seek care. Eye conditions can deteriorate rapidly, and symptoms that seem minor can sometimes signal serious underlying problems. Any sudden vision change, significant eye pain, chemical exposure, or eye injury should be evaluated the same day. If you're unsure whether your situation is urgent, call our team and we will help you assess it.

What should I do while I'm on my way to be seen?

Do not rub the affected eye. For chemical exposures, continuously flush the eye with clean water until you reach medical care. For suspected penetrating injuries, loosely cover the eye with a clean shield or cup without applying pressure. For other injuries, keep the eye as still and protected as possible and avoid putting pressure on the eye or surrounding area.

Can I drive myself to an emergency eye appointment?

If your vision is significantly affected, you should not drive yourself. Arrange for a companion to bring you, use another transportation option, or contact our office for guidance on the safest course of action for your situation.

What if I need surgery for an eye emergency?

For conditions requiring surgical intervention, our on-site INSIGHT Surgery Center is available for urgent cases, and our surgical team is experienced in managing ocular emergencies that require operative care. When hospital-based treatment is more appropriate, we coordinate the transition promptly and communicate with the receiving team to support continuity of care.

I went to the ER for an eye problem and was told to follow up with an eye doctor. How soon can I be seen?

We see patients following an ER visit as promptly as possible, typically within one to two business days depending on the nature and urgency of the condition. Call us as soon as possible after your ER visit and let us know what happened so our team can prioritize your appointment appropriately.

Are eye emergencies covered by medical insurance?

Yes. Emergency and urgent eye care is typically covered under medical insurance rather than vision insurance because it involves the diagnosis and treatment of an acute medical condition. Our team can work with your medical insurance provider and help you understand your coverage for emergency eye services.