Diabetic eye disease: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek emergency care for sudden severe vision loss, especially if urgent eye services are unavailable.

   Severe eye pain with a red eye, headache, nausea, or rapidly worsening vision also needs emergency assessment.

   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
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Contact your eye clinic promptly if you have known diabetic retinopathy and notice any new vision change.

   Do not wait for your next screening appointment.

   Seek urgent same-day eye care for:

   • A sudden increase in floaters
   • New flashes of light
   • A dark shadow or curtain moving across your vision
   • Sudden blurred, distorted, or reduced vision
   • New loss of part of your visual field
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Arrange a routine appointment for gradual, stable blurring, changing focus, difficulty reading, or poorer night vision.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Diabetic eye disease. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.