Eye Emergencies in Pittsburgh

Eye Emergencies in Pittsburgh

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

Schedule Eye Exam

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 Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village for emergency eye care.

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

eye emergency treated at Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village

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!


Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

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


Urgent Eye Care in Pittsburgh

Our optometry practice in Pittsburgh

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Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Aetna
Patient Reviews
4.5
105 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Oct. 29, 2023
The staff was friendly and the doctor was very thorough!
- Oct. 10, 2023
Very good experience. A wide variety to choose from for frames and I am hard to fit
- Aug. 27, 2023
My family has been going to Dr. Bittel for years. He does an excellent job and his staff is professi... onal. Strongly recommend.
- Aug. 06, 2023
Friendly staff. No long waits.
- May. 25, 2023
Professional, thorough and friendly.
- May. 25, 2023
Excellent care from Dr. Robert Bittel and his staff.
- May. 03, 2023
I've been going to Drs Bittel for over a decade, and I couldn't imagine going anywhere else! The st... aff is always extremely friendly and professional, and they have a wide selection of eyewear to choose from. Super excited to go pick up my new glasses today!!!
- Apr. 17, 2023
Great people giving great services and products
- Mar. 11, 2023
We always have a positive experience. The staff is friendly and helpful.
- Feb. 27, 2023
Excellent service and very professional doctor, my 7 years old son was so comfortable during his app... ointment. Very recommended!
- Feb. 25, 2023
Dr Bittel was so kind and professional towards my 90 year old father. Thoroughly examined his eyes a... nd spoke kindly to him.
- Feb. 10, 2023
Dr Bittle diagnosed me with wet macula degeneration and made an appointment for me at Retina Vision ... Services for the next day for treatment.He is responsible for preserving my vision in my left eye and I readily recommend him to everyone .j
- Dec. 27, 2022
I've been going here for many years and I have always been treated very nicely.The staff is very pro... fessional and Doctor Bittel is awesome!
- Dec. 17, 2022
Was at Bittel yesterday for a glasses adjustment. The off-putting slant of my glasses was driving m... e nuts. Carol immediately knew what was wrong and adjusted the glasses so they are perfect now. Thanks Carol for your care and professionalism!
- Oct. 01, 2022
My 90 year old Mother is a patient. There was a problem when she went to pick up her new glasses and... they weren't correct. She was very upset, stuff like that tends to extremely overwhelm her now that she is older. Jen was awesome, put her at ease, solved the problem and got them correctly reordered. She was kind and compassionate and cool which meant a lot to my mother. She couldn't say enough about Jen and how nicely she was treated. Thank you!
- Jul. 14, 2022
I have been a patient of Dr. Bittel’s for many years. I highly recommend him because he is so know... ledgeable, professional and caring. My appointment went so smooth as I had a couple issues, he always takes his time and is so thorough. The staff is awesome too!!!
- Feb. 03, 2022
Great service, excellent staff, and doctors that care about their patients.
- Nov. 11, 2021
Nothing but possitve visits at Bittel Vision Care Center! The Doctor's and staff are so friendly and... professional. Love the assistance I receive when choosing eyeglasses! Top notch all the way!
- Nov. 09, 2021
I have major eye issues including Thyroid Eye Disease. The doctors and nurses are amazing. They ar... e patient and caring. They did not rush me through trying on several brands of contacts to find just the right ones. Highly recommend Bittel Optical!
- Sep. 06, 2021
Dr Bob and Dr Matt are always punctual, professional and compassionate.

View All 105 Reviews

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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh as soon as possible.


Woman with red eyes holding her head

Have an eye emergency?

Protect your vision by contacting Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village in Pittsburgh without delay!

Schedule Eye Exam