Eye Emergencies in Vestal

Foreign objects or stabbing pains in your eye? Don’t wait!

(607) 722-2020

Experiencing a stab of pain in your eye?

Sudden changes in vision? Images appearing faded, blurry or foggy?

Got chemicals or another foreign object or substance in your eye?

Come visit Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal for emergency eye care.

Our Vestal optometrists can help you preserve your vision and eye health.

eye emergency treated at Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal

We understand that accidents happen.

Our optometrists know exactly what to do to help you through your eye care emergency.

Whether it’s a workplace accident, an at-home incident, or some other emergency requiring immediate attention, we’re here to help you preserve your eye health and sight!

What To Do If You Have an Eye Emergency

First things first. Don’t panic! Staying calm is the best way to help you think straight and help those around you to remain calm. Often, it’s not necessary to go to an emergency room for eye emergencies. In fact, the vast majority of people who go to the emergency room for eye care could have received treatment from their local optometrist instead.

If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing an eye emergency, give us a call immediately! Delay may increase the risk of serious complications and may result in vision loss.

Until you see your eye doctor or seek urgent care, avoid the following:

Don’t try to remove an embedded object out of your eye
If your eye is injured, don't press on it or rub it
Dry cotton and sharp instruments such as tweezers should never be used on the eye.

Whether you've had a workplace accident or an at-home incident, our eye doctors are here to help

Eye Emergencies FAQs

What is considered an eye emergency?

Eye emergencies are anything that may cause permanent damage to your eyes or vision without timely intervention from an eye care professional.

The most common types of eye emergencies include:

A blow, poke or other trauma to the eye
Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
Chemical spills in the eye
Foreign object embedded in the eye
Sudden appearance of light flashes or floaters
Contact lens lost in the eye

Does an eye infection require urgent care?

Symptoms of an eye infection typically include itching, burning, redness, crusty and watery eyes. See a Vestal eye doctor if your symptoms last over 4 days or if you experience intense pain, redness, blurred vision or light sensitivity.

What should I do if a foreign object enters my eye?

Most of the time, a person can easily remove debris from the eye by repeatedly blinking to get the debris out. If that doesn't work, you can wash your eye with saline (sterile salt water) to flush out any dust and dirt from your eye, or use streaming tap water.

However, to scratch your cornea while attempting to get an object out which can cause further site-threatening complications.

So the best thing you can do in this kind of eye emergency is to get to your eye doctor in Vestal as soon as possible.

Meet our Eye Emergencies Specialists

George T. Roberts O.D.

Angela Marx O.D.

Ryan Whinery O.D.

Michael Christensen O.D.

Patient Reviews

- Oct. 11, 2024

Sigh....I don't even know where to begin. My wife and I had an AWFUL experience at another eyecare ... Show Morecenter. I won't name names, but it was right down the road, and I gotta say: after receiving care there, my wife's Vision just doesn't Work(s). The long story made short, we waited a month for what turned out to be a telehealth appointment, which resulted in an improper Rx for my wife. If you call their office, you are sent to a robot call center, never to the actual brick&mortar place itself. So, customer service was horrendous, non-local, and entirely unethical. Then, enter Roberts. I called, they answered - as in, one of the FOUR front desk receptionists who breathe oxygen and likely drink water to perform homeostasis - to schedule my wife and I. You walk in and this place is CLEAN, with wooden ACCENTS and I might even dare say to be somewhat FANCY! But, guess what? They take my insurance. Wow. I have been nursing a scratch on my eye for some time, and my wife was experiencing frequent headaches as a result of her Robot Glasses from...the place down the road. Dr. Bakari Samin attended us in the most professional and friendly manner imaginable. No...one cannot actually imagine such levels of professionalism, this man reached deep into his soul to help us feel heard, reassured, and ultimately cured; heard? I'm telling you, come here for the service. I see a lot of 1-2 star reviews on here that only talk about the prices of eyewear. Anyone who is shocked by retail prices in 2024 have been living under a rock! Take your Rx and go elsewhere, they get it! But come HERE for the service. I asked them if they have a robot and telehealth, and several people there said they came to Roberts to work from other Works of Vision because they DON'T do that complete nonsense. I guarantee if folks wrote reviews based on their experience rather than eyewear prices, they would be 5 star reviews. From Dr. Samin to the wonderful receptionists at the front desk, my family was able to regain the sense of dignity lost last year when we were "taken care of" (more like "Taken Out") at....the other place down the street. Again, not naming names, but if your Vision Works, you should be able to see it from Robert's window, and you'll know where to avoid. I think we found our lifelong eyecare team here at Roberts, which has been serving the southern tier since 1911. You can tell based on the decor they are proud Binghamtonians, and hey, so am I. Thank you.