top of page
bgImage

EMERGENCY & VISION INFO

What you need to know about eye conditions

Vision Care and Vision Loss Info in Edmonton

Proper vision care is fundamental to ensure optimal eye health and prevent many eye diseases and conditions. For that reason, apart from providing a wide range of reliable eye exams, Optometrists’ Clinic Inc also offers eye care for children, adults and the elderly. Our goal is to make sure that you and your family are well taken care of, ensuring that you can get the proper treatment and vision care for a wide range of eye-related issues in Edmonton.
 
In order to provide you with reliable vision info, we share a comprehensive list of common vision conditions and eye diseases, allowing you to have a better understanding of what you or your family members may be dealing with.

Common Eye Conditions and Diseases

Cataracts is often a common sign of aging typically affecting people in the age of 50 or older. It causes part of or the entire eye lens to look blurred or cloudy, which reduces vision capabilities.
 

Considered to be a serious condition, glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve and can lead to partial or full vision loss. Glaucoma is treatable when caught at the early stages and is almost always detected through routine eye examination as there are rarely symptoms until it is quite advanced.
 

Caused by damage to the retina, macular degeneration is a disease that affects your central vision and can be more effectively managed or treated if detected early. It can be caused by a variety of factors such as aging, smoking, and excessive exposure to the sun.
 

Posterior vitreous detachment is a condition caused by the partial separation of vitreous gel in the eye from the retina. Typical symptoms include seeing small dark shapes floating inside your eye. 
 

Affecting people with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that causes the leakage of blood vessels or swelling of the retina which can lead to vision loss. Other symptoms include flashes of light, spots or dark strings, and blurry vision.
 

If tears can’t provide enough lubrication for the eyes, it can result in a condition called dry eye. It may lead to symptoms that include the sensation of burning and scratching, which may cause pain and discomfort. In many cases, treatment involves the use of eye drops that can alleviate the symptoms.
 

  • Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a disease that affects your eyelids, resulting in discomforting symptoms such as itchiness and irritation. It happens due to the blockage of the oil glands in the eyelids, which can lead to bacterial infections if not promptly treated.
 

Pink eye is a common condition typically caused by viral or bacterial infection. Known for being contagious, it brings distinct symptoms that include gritty feeling, itching, and/or discharge. 

What to Do in an Eye Emergency

1. Sudden Loss of Vision

In the event of loss of complete or partial vision in one or both eyes, consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately. Failing this, seek a hospital visit quickly. In Edmonton, the best hospital to attend for eye emergies is the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Loss of vision can include graying or blacking out of part or all of the field of vision in one or both eyes.

2. Chemical Splash in the Eyes

In all cases of chemical splash, immediate and thorough irrigation of the affected eye and surrounding orbit with water is important. Putting the patient into a shower or under a tap and holding the eyelids open is a good option. Make sure any debris is removed. After copious irrigation, seek attention at the nearest hospital. Make sure to be able to tell the doctor what the chemical was.


In the case of a smaller, milder event, do the same irrigation as above and seek attention with an eye doctor or medical doctor if this will be timelier than the hospital option.

3. Foreign Body/Abrasion

In the case of a small abrasion or retained foreign body, please seek attention from your eye doctor. Please call the clinic immediately.  If urgent care is required after regular office hours, please attend the hospital emergency room.


For penetrating injury where the object is still in place, do not try to remove it yourself. Seek help from an eye doctor or hospital.

If your eye is red, sore, tearing or secreting mucus, you may have an infection. Seek help from any of our clinics. If you are a contact lens wearer, you should remove the contact lens at your earliest convenience if you cannot see a doctor in the near future.

If the eyelid has a focal swelling and is mildly painful, it is best to start with warm compresses until you can contact the clinic for an appointment.

If the swelling is more generalized, associated with heat to the touch and/or flaking of the skin over the area, or a fever and malaise exists, a more urgent condition requiring a more immediate opinion is required.

If the swelling is associated with itching, is in both eyes and you feel it might be associated with allergies, taking an antihistamine if appropriate and seeking an appointment with your eye doctor is called for.

4. Infections

bottom of page