What is hearing and vision testing?

Hearing and vision testing involves the use of simple tests to determine if a person's eyes and ears are working properly. These are safe procedures that can be performed on children of all ages, as well as adults. During a hearing test, certain sounds are played for the patient, and the person is asked to report what they hear. This helps the doctor determine if the person has an issue with their hearing.

Visual tests typically include an examination of the person's eye, as well as an evaluation of their ability to read letters on a vision chart.

How does urgent care come in?

While vision and hearing testing can be performed at an optometrist or otolaryngologist's clinic, patients often have to wait weeks for an appointment. This is typically not a big deal when going for routine hearing and vision testing, but when an emergency occurs, waiting a couple of weeks to find out if there is something wrong with one's vision or hearing is simply not an option.

An urgent care facility provides hearing and vision testing the person needs shortly after they walk into the clinic, and there is no need for an appointment. Urgent care centers are typically open for longer hours than traditional clinics. Some are even open 24 hours a day.

Let us take a look at common issues that require immediate testing.

Vision issues that require immediate testing and treatment

1. An unexplainable, sudden loss of vision

Suddenly losing the ability to see can be a sign of a serious condition like a complete retinal detachment, a central retinal artery occlusion or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Heading to an urgent care facility is a smart move when dealing with such an issue. There, the patient can get the testing they need to determine the cause of their condition, as well as the appropriate treatments.

2. Pain coming from or around the eyes

Conditions like acute angle-closure glaucoma, tumors, migraines and trauma can lead to pain around the eyes, while issues like dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, eyelid styes and corneal abrasions can lead to pain directly from the eye. Neither types of eye pain should be ignored. Immediate testing and treatment of the issue causing the pain is best for the patient's health.

3. Floating objects or flashing lights in vision

At times, a person might notice objects floating around in their vision or flashes of light. This is often a symptom of the person's retina being detached or torn. When the retina peels off, it tends to move around in the eye, causing the person to see flashes of light or floating objects. Floating objects in a person's vision can also be an indicator of a condition called posterior vitreal detachment. The condition increases the odds of the person's retina being detached, which is a major medical emergency.

4. Light sensitivity and pain after sleeping with contacts

Experiencing sensitivity to light, redness and pain after sleeping with contact lenses on overnight may be a sign that a person has a corneal ulcer. It should be noted that even going to sleep for only a short time while wearing contacts can lead to inflammation of the eyes. A corneal ulcer is a medical issue that can become very severe after a couple of days. Patients are advised to seek treatment immediately if they notice the symptoms of corneal cancer.