Before your visit

If you wear contacts, take them out and wear glasses until we see you. Try not to rub the eye.
When to go to the emergency room

If a chemical gets in your eye, rinse it with clean running water for at least 15 minutes, then go to the emergency room.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for:
- an eye injury
- sudden vision loss
- sudden flashes or many new floaters
- a shadow or curtain over your vision
- sudden severe eye pain with redness
Questions about red eye and urgent visits
Is an urgent eye visit billed to my vision plan?
Usually not. A red or painful eye is a medical visit, so it is billed to your medical insurance.
What if it happens after hours?
For anything on the emergency list, go to the emergency room or call 911. For anything else, leave a message and we call back the next morning.
Reviewed by Dr. Nadia Brandvold, OD, October 7, 2026
