Eye problems can be a real nuisance. Things like allergies and environmental irritants can cause your eyes become red and irritated. Itching and redness are common issues that can usually be treated without an optometrist. However, there are some eye problems that are going to require immediate attention. Take a look at some of the eye problems that should be treated as an emergency.

Eye Trauma

Trauma to the eye can be a serious problem, especially if there is visible damage. Things like a blow to the eye, or other trauma should be taken seriously. Even something as simple as an eye poke can create an emergency situation, especially if the poke was hard enough to injure the surface of the eye. If you've been struck in the eye, and have visible damage, you might have an injury that will affect your vision. This is particularly true if you see swelling of the eyeball, or gouge marks, scratches or other injuries on the eye, itself.

Blurred Vision

Blurriness that comes and goes is usually not a cause for concern. That type of blurred vision can be caused by fatigue, lack of sleep or sickness. However, if your vision suddenly becomes blurry, and remains blurry, you should contact your optometrist as soon as possible.

If your vision suddenly goes black, like you've closed your eyes, you should notify your optometrist or visit a local emergency room. That may be a sign of retinal detachment, a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness.

Eye Pain

Eye pain is another issue that may be a sign of a vision emergency. If you have sudden or persistent eye pain that either throbs or is a stabbing pain, contact your optometrist as soon as possible. This is particularly important if the eye pain is accompanied by redness or swelling. Inflammation of the inner eye tissue can cause severe eye pain that will need to be treated.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may occasionally experience eye pain, in addition to the pain you have in the rest of your body. This is also something that you should talk to your optometrist about.

Problems with your eyes should be taken seriously. While problems like dry eyes and allergies can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications, more serious vision problems will require the care of an optometrist. If you've suffered any of the vision problems mentioned above, be sure to contact an optometrist (such as Terrezza O.D. & Associates, P.A.) as soon as possible.