Eye injury - To not go to the a&e?

[Lonelycats]

Hi, I hate going to the hospital or the gp and will do anything to avoid it, and I’d be so appreciative if anyone has any advice for me!

I hit my eye on my car door, it violently swung back and the corner of the door hit me right in the eye with some force. Awful. I had just been shopping and had some frozen beans so I was able to instantly apply that as a cooling pack.

the eye looks normal but is sore, and my vision is just a little blurry. No flashes of light or patches of darkness in my field of vision. No photosensitivity.

please tell me that I can let this heal/recover on it’s own? Any red flags which would prompt a call to the gp? Really really don’t want to go but obviously don’t want to compromise my vision if that’s a risk.

Just go to the Optician. A&E won't be any use in this situation anyway.

Optician - first thing in morning.

Why are you confidently telling OP that A&E won't be able to help with an eye injury? That simply isn't true.

How bizarre to confidently state something that is entirely wrong. To someone with a medical concern.

My friend lost his sight in one eye from an injury, detached retina. I agree with everyone else saying it’s not worth risking losing sight in that eye.

If you have an eye infirmary or eye casualty in your area, then that would be the best place to go.

If that’s not available, then A&E. I sympathise with not wanting to go to A&E, but your vision isn’t something that you should be taking risks with.

@thewillowbunnies very wrong and v dangerous advice. A&E is absolutely the correct place to be seen particularly in the evening when opticians are closed. Detached retina is time critical- if it detaches completely theres nothing they fan do snd your blind.

A&E. No doubt at all.

Are you anywhere near Moorfield hospital. You could try ringing them I think they have a walk-in clinic.

Yes they will

ABSOLUTELY THIS.

Thanks everyone, I’m in the a&e now - 111 called back rather quickly and directed me to come here. 111 didn’t think I have symptoms of anything sinister but better safe than sorry

Really relieved to hear this

Let us know how you get on

That's a relief hopefully everything fine

Relieved to hear you're getting checked out
Eyes are precious

Other people are covering them. A&E will still be manned.

I’d go to an Eye A&E over a standard A&E, but both will be open as usual. It is weekend cover levels.

All fine! I am so relieved. I want to thank you for supporting me - I’m sorry if this sounds ridiculous but I’m so scared of hospitals and even if I don’t know anyone of you who took the time to write here, it felt comforting to read your replies. 🌸

Great!!! And how much better to go home and get a decent night's sleep rather than spend the night wondering whether you're going to lose sight in one eye.

When my son copped an indoor cricket ball to the eye socket, I took him to hospital to have it checked out 'just in case'. He was triaged as high priority and put through a range of tests as a matter of urgency. Everything was ok, but everyone at the hospital noted that you don't mess around with eye injuries.

I'm so glad you got the all clear

That’s great news. Hospitals are definitely not fun places - but A&E is definitely the place to go for eye injuries like that just to make sure.

Glad you went OP. To others though, the opticians isn’t always a bad starting point if you are registered with one. Ours has a direct link to the eye department at the hospital and can fast track you an appointment there to their emergency clinic which runs alongside the usual macular, glaucoma, cataract etc outpatient clinics.

It's also significantly better than the GP, as they're experts with better equipment. But opthalmic a&e is the most appropriate place for injuries and symptoms of serious conditions.

@Lonelycats , I won't even go to the GP, but when I injured my eye, I dragged myself to the nearest Eye Clinic A&E. I had tried a pharmacist and a couple of opticians first. One optician's receptionist told me to go to Eye A&E inmediately. Specsavers said they could do me an eye health check appointment the following morning which was bloody useless as I was in agony.
The pharmacist didn't have any antibiotics in stock and said Eye A&E.

There was a wait of about 1.5 hrs there but I got treated and eye is ok now.

So glad you’re ok very pleased at this news

Thank goodness you went and you are okay. DH took one of the DC today to A&E as he poked his eye at school. Turned out he needed antibiotics, 4mm corneal abrasion 🤷 worth that trip. He was in agony. Everyone can rest easy now tonight knowing DC has been seen.

Never fanny around when it comes to 👀

This.

even if you have a retinal detachment, they won’t operate overnight.

you need an urgent eye examination with pupil dilation, a visual field test and pressure check in the morning. If there is an issue they can urgently refer you to the eye unit.

I’m an optometrist.