Eye Emergencies in Thornton

Eye Emergencies in Thornton

Foreign objects or stabbing pains in your eye? Don’t wait!

(303) 450-0200

Experiencing a stab of pain in your eye?

Sudden changes in vision? Images appearing faded, blurry or foggy?

Got chemicals or another foreign object or substance in your eye?

Come visit EyeCare Specialties of Colorado - Thornton for emergency eye care.

Our Thornton optometrists can help you preserve your vision and eye health.

eye emergency treated at EyeCare Specialties of Colorado - Thornton

We understand that accidents happen.

Our optometrists know exactly what to do to help you through your eye care emergency.

Whether it’s a workplace accident, an at-home incident, or some other emergency requiring immediate attention, we’re here to help you preserve your eye health and sight!


What To Do If You Have an Eye Emergency

close-up of eye

First things first. Don’t panic! Staying calm is the best way to help you think straight and help those around you to remain calm. Often, it’s not necessary to go to an emergency room for eye emergencies. In fact, the vast majority of people who go to the emergency room for eye care could have received treatment from their local optometrist instead.

If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing an eye emergency, give us a call immediately! Delay may increase the risk of serious complications and may result in vision loss.

Until you see your eye doctor or seek urgent care, avoid the following:

  • Don’t try to remove an embedded object out of your eye
  • If your eye is injured, don't press on it or rub it
  • Dry cotton and sharp instruments such as tweezers should never be used on the eye.

Whether you've had a workplace accident or an at-home incident, our eye doctors are here to help


Eye Emergencies FAQs

What is considered an eye emergency?

Eye emergencies are anything that may cause permanent damage to your eyes or vision without timely intervention from an eye care professional.

The most common types of eye emergencies include:

  • A blow, poke or other trauma to the eye
  • Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • Chemical spills in the eye
  • Foreign object embedded in the eye
  • Sudden appearance of light flashes or floaters
  • Contact lens lost in the eye
Does an eye infection require urgent care?

Symptoms of an eye infection typically include itching, burning, redness, crusty and watery eyes. See a Thornton eye doctor if your symptoms last over 4 days or if you experience intense pain, redness, blurred vision or light sensitivity.

What should I do if a foreign object enters my eye?

Most of the time, a person can easily remove debris from the eye by repeatedly blinking to get the debris out. If that doesn't work, you can wash your eye with saline (sterile salt water) to flush out any dust and dirt from your eye, or use streaming tap water.

However, to scratch your cornea while attempting to get an object out which can cause further site-threatening complications.

So the best thing you can do in this kind of eye emergency is to get to your eye doctor in Thornton as soon as possible.

Patient Reviews
4.8
630 Reviews
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4
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- Jan. 14, 2025
Love coming here for glasses and contacts. The staff is amazing, nice and welcoming.
- Jan. 03, 2025
The staff is always helpful and Nice
- Jan. 01, 2025
Very friendly people that make you feel comfortable
- Dec. 17, 2024
Always a great experience! Loren & Dr. Hieb have been fantastic to work with every time I've been in... . Alex is so friendly too. Such a lovely place with top notch staff!!
- Dec. 16, 2024
Cindy the Doc and the whole team are fantastic. I’m blind in one eye and have a special prescripti... on and the have made all 7 pairs I’ve bought correctly. First eye care provider to ever do this for me. They have a customer for life. KLO
- Dec. 09, 2024
Top Level Care! Friendly & Fun Staff & Doctors!
- Dec. 04, 2024
GREAT service.
- Nov. 12, 2024
The staff was professional and very helpful I recommend them to everybody and I already have recomme... nded thank you for everything you have done for me and for just being such a good place that you are
- Nov. 10, 2024
I felt very welcomed in this office, they take very good care of their patients.
- Nov. 01, 2024
Great people, timely, thorough.
- Oct. 25, 2024
Everyone is very friendly and it’s a comfortable environment.
- Oct. 20, 2024
Nice people great help
- Oct. 08, 2024
Dr Riggs is an incredible doctor. I'm so very lucky to have him leading my eye care. Can't recommend... enough!
- Sep. 28, 2024
The staff is extremely helpful and caring. They work hard to make your experience positive. My new l... enses needed some adjusting and they were incredibly patient and diligent in getting it right. Thank you, Cindy, Ali and Loren.
- Sep. 24, 2024
MICHAEL is the most helpful customer service worker I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with!!!...
- Sep. 04, 2024
Eye had a great experience here. Fast, professional, affordable service and eye enjoyed talking with... the optometrist. Eye'm glad to have a eye doctor near me that eye can trust.
- Aug. 17, 2024
Great service and very friendly
- Aug. 16, 2024
The Best Staff very professional polite and knowledgeable I definitely recommend this place
- Aug. 08, 2024
My son and husband have both had great experiences at this eye doctor. They love their new glasses a... s well!
- Jul. 29, 2024
Great Customer care! Clean and friendly environment.

View All 630 Reviews

Urgent Eye Care in Thornton

Our optometry practice in Thornton

Photograph of Joel Riggs
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Medicare
  • VSP
  • Spectera

Woman with red eyes holding her head

Have an eye emergency?

Protect your vision by contacting EyeCare Specialties of Colorado - Thornton in Thornton without delay!

(303) 450-0200