Going home after your visit
Eye injury — advice after your visit
How to look after your eye, and the signs that need urgent eye assessment.
You have had an eye injury. Here is how to look after your eye and the signs that need urgent eye assessment. If a chemical splashed into your eye, rinse it now (see below).
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Go to A&E or an eye casualty if any of these happen
These can be signs of a serious eye injury and need checking the same day.
- Any loss or change of vision, or double vision
- Severe pain, or strong sensitivity to light
- Something stuck in the eye you cannot rinse out
- An injury from metal, grinding, or a fast-moving particle
- A cut to the eyeball, or blood inside the eye
- Pus or thick discharge coming from the eye
- You cannot open the eye, or cannot move it
- The pupil looks an odd shape
- New floaters, flashes, or a "curtain" across your sight
CALL 999 Do not drive yourself — ask someone to take you. If you cannot get there safely, feel very unwell, or are being sick, call 999.
Caring for your eye
- Use any drops or ointment exactly as you were given.
- Do not rub the eye, or try to dig out anything stuck in it.
- Rest the eye, and wear sunglasses if light hurts.
- Do not wear contact lenses until the eye is fully healed.
- Do not drive while your vision is blurred, or you have a pad on.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain if you can take them.
If a chemical got in your eye
Rinse the eye straight away with plenty of clean water or saline for at least 20 minutes, holding the lids open. Then go to A&E or an eye casualty immediately — do not wait to see if it settles. Take the bottle or container with you so staff know what the chemical was.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a red-flag symptom above
111
Urgent but not life-threatening, or you're not sure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team
Use the department phone in Your care details above