Emergency Eye Care in Gibsonton & Riverview, FL
Eye emergencies don’t wait for convenient timing — and neither should your care. If you’re experiencing sudden eye pain, significant redness, unexpected vision changes, flashes of light, or the sensation of something in your eye, contact Riverview Eye Care immediately. Our doctors are trained in diagnosing and managing a wide range of ocular emergencies, and we work to provide same-day or next-available appointments for urgent situations.
Call (813) 498-1905 directly for the fastest response.
Ocular Emergencies We Treat
Our team is equipped to evaluate and manage many common eye emergencies in-office, including:
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye) — bacterial, viral, and allergic
- Ocular allergic reactions and severe eye irritation
- Foreign body removal (dust, metal, wood, and other particles)
- Acute vision changes, flashes, or floaters
- Corneal abrasions and ocular surface injuries
- Eye infections and inflammatory conditions
- Sudden onset of eye pain or pressure
If your situation requires care beyond what can be managed in our office, we will coordinate a prompt referral to a trusted ophthalmologist or emergency facility in the area.
When to Seek Immediate Emergency Eye Care
Certain symptoms require urgent evaluation and should not be ignored or managed with home remedies. Seek immediate care at Riverview Eye Care or an emergency facility if you experience sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, a large increase in floaters or flashes of light (which can signal a retinal tear or detachment), chemical exposure to the eye, a penetrating eye injury, or significant eye pain following trauma.
For chemical exposures, rinse the eye with clean water or saline immediately and call us at (813) 498-1905 on your way in. Do not rub the eye or attempt to remove embedded objects.
For patients concerned about persistent redness or irritation that may be allergy-related, we also offer specialized red eye and allergy care services as part of our routine practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Eye Care
What counts as an eye emergency?
Any sudden or severe eye symptom warrants urgent evaluation. This includes sudden vision loss or blurring, a significant increase in floaters or new flashes of light, eye pain following an injury, chemical splashes, suspected foreign body in the eye, or severe redness accompanied by pain or discharge. When in doubt, call (813) 498-1905 and describe your symptoms — our team will advise you on the appropriate next step.
Can Riverview Eye Care treat pink eye?
Yes. We diagnose and treat all forms of conjunctivitis, including bacterial, viral, and allergic pink eye. Proper diagnosis is important because each type is treated differently — bacterial conjunctivitis often responds to antibiotic drops, while viral and allergic forms require different management approaches.
What should I do if I get something in my eye?
Try blinking several times to see if tears flush out the particle naturally. If irritation continues, do not rub your eye — this can drive the object deeper or scratch the cornea. Call us at (813) 498-1905 to schedule an urgent appointment. For foreign body removal, our doctors use specialized instruments and topical anesthetics to safely extract particles with minimal discomfort.
Can sudden floaters or flashes of light be an emergency?
Yes. A sudden increase in floaters — especially accompanied by flashes of light or a shadow/curtain across your vision — can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment, which is a medical emergency requiring prompt treatment. If you experience these symptoms, call us immediately or go to your nearest emergency eye care facility.
Do you treat eye infections?
Yes. We diagnose and treat a variety of eye infections, including bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, corneal infections (keratitis), styes, and eyelid infections (blepharitis). Early treatment of eye infections prevents complications and speeds recovery.
What if I have a chemical splash in my eye?
Immediately flush the affected eye with large amounts of clean water or saline for at least 15 minutes, then call (813) 498-1905 and come to our office as quickly as possible. Chemical exposure can cause rapid damage to the ocular surface — prompt irrigation and professional evaluation are critical.
Do I need an appointment for emergency eye care at Riverview Eye Care?
Call us at (813) 498-1905 as soon as possible. We do our best to accommodate urgent and same-day appointments for eye emergencies during our office hours. Describe your symptoms clearly so our team can triage your situation appropriately.