Eye Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Do you think you have an infection after an eye injury?

See significance of signs of infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have diabetes?

Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have pain in your eye?

Yes

Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)?

Yes

Are your eyes very sensitive to light (photophobia)?

Yes

Do you have a yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from your eye?

Yes

Is redness of your eye or eyelids getting worse?

Yes

Do you have a gray or white sore on your eye?

Yes

Do you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have blurred or decreased vision?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

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Last updated:	December 13, 2005
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Ian MacDonald, MDCM, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer