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
Seek urgent or emergency eye care for:
Sudden, severe loss of vision
A dark curtain or shadow moving across your sight
A sudden burst of new floaters or flashing lights
Severe eye pain, marked redness, or rapidly worsening vision
Increasing pain or vision loss after an eye injection
These are not typical signs of slowly developing macular edema.
They may indicate infection, retinal detachment, bleeding, or another condition needing rapid 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
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Arrange a prompt eye assessment for new or worsening central blur, distortion, faded colors, or reading difficulty.
These symptoms have several possible causes and require examination.
Contact your eye clinic promptly if symptoms worsen while you are waiting for treatment or between visits.
And for anyone, someone who:
is getting rapidly more short of breath, or has gained several pounds in a few days with swelling
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Continue routine follow-up even when your sight seems stable.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Diabetic macular edema. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.