Eye Emergencies in St. Augustine

Eye Emergencies in St. Augustine

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

(904) 824-0212

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 Rowe Family EyeCare for emergency eye care.

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

eye emergency treated at Rowe Family EyeCare

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 St. Augustine 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 St. Augustine as soon as possible.


Patient Reviews
4.8
312 Reviews
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4
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- Mar. 09, 2026
Doctors and staff are friendly and professional!
- Mar. 07, 2026
I am always extremely impressed with Dr Brown’s knowledge and professionalism
- Feb. 26, 2026
These folks are great! Always welcoming and happy.
- Feb. 25, 2026
Super helpful and kind staff! Allll of them!
- Feb. 24, 2026
Thank you very much to Dr. Sierra Mattox for her approach to treatment, for helping us choose the ri... ght treatment, a very attentive specialist who pays attention to everything
- Feb. 15, 2026
Very friendly and helpful
- Feb. 13, 2026
Very professional and thorough
- Feb. 04, 2026
You can rest assured your eyesight will be given the best care possible to achieve results you can t... rust. Time & attention is taken to you & your eyesight to give you that assurance.
- Feb. 04, 2026
Dr. Brown is so patient and kind and knows how to talk to kids! She always makes my kids feel heard ... and gives them opportunities to explore while answering all their questions. I cannot say enough about our experience with her!
- Jan. 30, 2026
Best service great staff and they are so friendly and professional, always a pleasure to be there.
- Jan. 14, 2026
Excellent provider! Professional, efficient, organized and personable staff; nice selection of frame... s; love Dr Mattox!
- Dec. 30, 2025
Love Dr. Maddox & Staff at Rowe Family Eyecare! Very organized and professional group. My new glasse... s were made quickly and they are perfect! Thank you!
- Dec. 19, 2025
Excellent practice, Aewsome staff, Excellent doctors!!
- Nov. 28, 2025
The front desk staff at Rowe Family EyeCare is kind and welcoming. The optician is friendly and thor... ough. Dr. Sierra Mattox takes her time during exams and thoroughly answers any questions you have. Please keep your business model and training of staff the same; it is greatly appreciated by your patients.
- Nov. 10, 2025
Dr. Linda Kindsvatter, Nick and Jennifer were incredibly supportive and very professional. I highly ... recommend this practice and their services. Special thanks to Jennifer for exceeding my expectations with unparalleled service.
- Nov. 07, 2025
very thorough and professional experience
- Oct. 16, 2025
Dr. Maddox is the best eye Doctor I have visited. She helped me greatly with my issue. I was nervous... and she made me feel at peace. Front desk personnel was professional and helpful.
- Sep. 30, 2025
This is THE place for eye care. The staff are warm and exceptionally knowledgeable. One even found ... an insurance benefits I did not know I had! As a FAA certified pilot, accuracy takes on a much importance for me. Prescriptions are always accurate. Their processes are quick without feeling rushed. As I worked through the exam, the tech and doctor seemed to enjoy my questions about my eyes and the processes. Have been telling my friends for years about this wonderful local service.
- Sep. 15, 2025
I travel two hours for my daughter to be seen here, and it is worth it. I cannot recommend this offi... ce more. Dr. Brown is an excellent doctor & great with kids. She picked up on my 6-year-olds vision problems that were dismissed by her optometrist at UF. Vision therapy here with Ms. Kathy has been simply life-changing for my girl. She sees better, reads better and is improving coordination. I tell everyone to give this place a try if they or their children have vision difficulties.
- Sep. 09, 2025
Great staff and service! Very clean and friendly environment.

View All 312 Reviews

Urgent Eye Care in St. Augustine

Our optometry practice in St. Augustine

Photograph of Austin  Taylor
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed

Woman with red eyes holding her head

Have an eye emergency?

Protect your vision by contacting Rowe Family EyeCare in St. Augustine without delay!

(904) 824-0212