Urgent eye care in Montréal

A red, painful or suddenly blurry eye should be checked without delay. PrimeVision is an optometry clinic in Montréal, near Marché Central, and our optometrists see urgent eye problems during opening hours. Call us at 514-827-7463 and we will tell you how soon we can see you. If it sounds like a hospital case, we will say so and point you to the right place.

When to call us

A red, irritated or painful eye
Something in your eye, such as dust, an eyelash or a small particle, that does not rinse out
New floaters or flashes of light that appear suddenly
Vision that becomes blurry suddenly, in one eye or both
Signs of an eye infection: discharge, swollen or crusted eyelids, eyelids stuck together in the morning
Contact lens discomfort, redness or pain that does not go away after you remove the lenses
A scratched eye, for example from a fingernail, a branch or a makeup brush

What to do right now

Do not rub your eye. Rubbing can make a scratch or a particle worse.
Chemical splash: rinse the eye right away with plenty of clean, lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open, then go to a hospital emergency room.
Contact lenses: take them out and do not put them back in. Wear your glasses and bring the lenses and their case to your visit.
Eye drops: do not use leftover drops from an old prescription or drops prescribed to someone else.
Object stuck in the eye: do not try to remove it and do not press on the eye. Go to a hospital emergency room.

When to go to the ER or call 911 instead

Call 911 or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room for:

A chemical splash in the eye (cleaning products, solvents, lime, cement), after rinsing
An object that has entered or cut the eye
A severe blow or injury to the eye, the head or the face
A sudden loss of vision together with other signs of stroke, such as a drooping face, weakness in an arm or trouble speaking

Outside our opening hours, call Info-Santé 811 to speak with a nurse, or go to a hospital emergency room. In an emergency, call 911.

RAMQ coverage

According to the RAMQ, emergency examinations performed by optometrists are covered for all insured persons experiencing a sudden eye problem, on presentation of a valid health insurance card. Its examples include conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelid and a foreign body on the surface of the eye. It also notes that some additional services are not covered, such as treatments (for example removing a foreign body or prescribing a medication) and supplemental tests used to establish a diagnosis. Details are on the RAMQ optometric services page.

How to reach us

For anything urgent, call 514-827-7463 instead of booking online. A short conversation tells us what is going on. We are open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sunday. For a routine check-up, you can book online or read about our eye exams. Our optometrists, Rebecca Neacsu, O.D., Nesrin Kutaich, O.D. and Margot Lichet, O.D., are introduced on our team page, and other ways to reach us are on our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is an urgent eye exam covered by the RAMQ?

According to the RAMQ, yes, for insured persons with a sudden eye problem who present a valid health insurance card. Some treatments and additional tests are not covered (see above).

Can I come in without calling?

Please call first. We will tell you how soon we can see you, or whether you should go to a hospital instead.

What if my eye problem starts at night or on a Sunday?

Call Info-Santé 811 or go to a hospital emergency room. In an emergency, call 911.

I wear contact lenses and my eye is red. What should I do?

Take your lenses out, wear your glasses and call us. Bring your lenses and their case.