Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Get emergency help now after a chemical splash.
Begin rinsing the eye immediately with plenty of clean, lukewarm water and continue while arranging emergency advice.
Do not delay rinsing to identify the chemical.
Emergency assessment is also appropriate for sudden major vision loss, a serious eye injury, or severe eye pain with headache, nausea, or vomiting.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Arrange urgent, same-day assessment if you have:
Moderate or severe eye pain
Strong sensitivity to light
Blurred or reduced vision that does not clear with blinking
A red, painful eye while wearing contact lenses
A cloudy or white spot on the cornea
A foreign object or recent eye injury
A large amount of pus-like discharge
Blisters around the eye or a history of eye herpes
Rapidly increasing redness or eyelid swelling
A newborn younger than one month with red eyes or discharge needs urgent medical assessment.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange routine medical follow-up if symptoms keep returning, are getting worse, remain unexplained, or are not improving as expected.
You should also seek follow-up if prescribed treatment is not helping.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Conjunctivitis or pink eye. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.