Managing Eye Emergencies: Knowing When to Seek Help

By Gauthier Family Home Care | September 17, 2024 | Comments Off on Managing Eye Emergencies: Knowing When to Seek Help
Senior home care can help monitor warning signs of serious eye issues in seniors as they age.

Senior home care can help monitor warning signs of serious eye issues in seniors as they age.

As the years pass, the eyes become more vulnerable to several issues, which can have a major impact on vision and general eye health. While routine treatment can effectively handle certain minor eye disorders, others require rapid attention. Senior home care providers can help seniors recognize the warning signs of eye emergencies and understand the importance of getting help sooner rather than later.

 

Abrupt Loss of Vision or Blurry Vision

If seniors suddenly lose eyesight in one or both of their eyes, it could be a sign of a stroke, retinal detachment, or other serious illness. Additionally, it is essential to pay attention to even brief instances of tunneling or blurred vision, as they could be signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or an approaching stroke. Immediate care is required to identify the underlying reason and start the proper treatment.

 

New Floaters or Light Flashes

An abrupt rise in floaters—tiny dots or spider-like shadows in their vision—and flashes of light, which are sometimes characterized as seeing stars or streaks, may be signs of a retinal tear or detachment. This situation often necessitates surgery to prevent irreversible vision loss.

 

Excessive Redness or Eye Pain

Redness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, or other symptoms, along with severe eye pain, maybe a sign of acute angle-closure glaucoma. This kind of glaucoma is a medical emergency that develops when the intraocular pressure of the eye suddenly increases. If left untreated, it can result in irreparable eyesight loss in a matter of hours.

Senior home care providers should urge seniors to immediately get medical help if they encounter these symptoms.

 

Inexplicable Double Vision

Double vision can be concerning, especially if it appears out of the blue. It could be a sign of a number of underlying medical disorders, such as brain damage, stroke, or an issue involving the muscles or nerves that govern the eyes. An eye care specialist must assess the senior right away in order to identify the problem and start the right course of treatment.

 

Foreign Object or Eye Injury

This should go without saying, but seniors should get medical help right away if they have any kind of eye trauma, including cuts, chemical burns, or foreign objects lodged in their eyes. Serious consequences, including bleeding, infection, or blindness, can result from even minor wounds.

Additionally, senior home care providers should encourage seniors to avoid scratching or applying pressure to an injured eye, as well as ensure they follow the recommendations of their medical team.

 

Prolonged Eye Pain or Swelling

If seniors have unusual discharge, itching, or discomfort in their eyes that doesn’t go away, it may point to an infection or inflammation. In some instances, prescription treatment is necessary for infections that don’t heal on their own in order to avoid consequences. Regardless, seniors should make an appointment with their eye care team for a proper assessment.

 

Any abrupt changes in a senior’s vision or eye health should be taken seriously. Rather than take the chance of irreversible eye injury, it is always best to err on the side of caution and seek emergency medical assistance. With the help of senior home care, seniors can preserve their vision and overall quality of life.

 

 

If you or someone you know needs help with Senior Home Care in Rockford, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 560-4057 for more information.

 

 

Sources:

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