Urgent and After-Hours Eye Care

Man getting eye exam

To meet the urgent care gaps in our community, the Waterloo Eye Institute is triaging and offering tele-optometric or in-person care as needed.

What is an urgent eye care concern?

Urgent eye care concerns include:

  • Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • Changes in vision such as sudden spots, flashes of light, wavy or jagged lines, blurry faces, halos around lights or double vision
  • Changes in the field of vision such as black spots or blurriness in central or peripheral (side) vision
  • Physical changes to the eye such as signs of infection (redness, swelling, discharge, etc.)
  • Sudden eye pain
  • Suspected eye abrasion
  • Suspected foreign body in the eye

This is not a complete list. If you have other acute symptoms that worry you, seek immediate care.

Who should I call if I have an urgent eye care concern?

Please call your regular optometrist first. If necessary, they may refer you to the Waterloo Eye Institute or to a hospital (usually St. Mary’s if you’re in Waterloo Region).

If your optometrist refers you to us, or if the Waterloo Eye Institute is your normal eye care provider, call 519-888-4623 to make an appointment at our Waterloo Clinic.

We are typically open for in-person urgent care appointments:

  • Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Who should I call after hours?

We offer an after-hours on-call service by telephone during the following times:

  • Monday to Friday: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

To get urgent eye care service during the above hours, call our dedicated line at 519-888-4567, ext. 40600. Depending on the situation, our on-call optometrist may advise you on how to look after your eyes at home, to book an appointment with our in-person urgent care service during regular business hours, or to go to a hospital emergency department.

If you need urgent eye care outside our after-hours on-call times, call St. Mary's Hospital at 519-744-3311. If you’re outside Waterloo Region, go to the nearest emergency room.

Contact

Urgent eye care services by appointment are offered at our Waterloo Clinic. Call 519-888-4623 during regular business hours to make an appointment.

Address: Unit C, 419 Phillip St., Waterloo

During our after-hours on-call times (see below), call 519-888-4567, ext. 40600 for advice by phone.