EYE CONCERNS & SYMPTOMS
Something feel off?
Start here.
A guide to common eye problems: what they usually are, how to stay comfortable until Dr. Mottola can see you, and the warning signs that mean "call us now."
CALL RIGHT AWAY - DON'T WAIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT
Sudden vision loss or a dark curtain over your vision • sudden burst of new floaters or flashing lights • chemical splashed in the eye (rinse with clean water for 15+ minutes first) • an object embedded in the eye • severe eye pain, especially with nausea • eye injury from impact.
Office: (910) 791-2755
• After-hours emergency: (910) 470-6598
• For a true emergency you can't reach us about, go to the nearest emergency room. Call 911
Dry Eye
Dry eye happens when your eyes don't make enough tears — or the tears evaporate too fast. It's extremely common on the coast, where sun, wind, and air conditioning all dry the eye's surface. Ironically, watery eyes are often a symptom: your eyes overproduce poor-quality tears to compensate.
UNTIL YOUR VISIT
Use preservative-free artificial tears several times a day • apply a warm compress to closed eyes for 5–10 minutes to help your oil glands • take screen breaks and blink fully and often • run a humidifier at home • wear wraparound sunglasses outside • avoid pointing fans or car vents at your face.
SEE US SOONER IF
Drops aren't helping after a week or two, your vision blurs, or light starts to bother you. Persistent dry eye is a treatable medical condition — you don't have to just live with it.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the clear membrane covering the white of your eye. It can be viral (most common, very contagious), bacterial (often with thicker discharge), or allergic (itchy, both eyes, not contagious). Because the treatments differ, an exam is thefastest way to the right fix.
UNTIL YOUR VISIT
Apply a cool compress to closed eyes for comfort • use artificial tears • gently clean crusting with a clean, damp cloth (wipe from inner corner outward, new cloth for each eye) • wash your hands often and don't share towels or pillowcases • stop wearing contact lenses and toss the current pair and case • skip eye makeup until cleared.
SEE US SOONER IF
You have eye pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision that doesn't clear with blinking, or symptoms that worsen after 24–48 hours — these can signal something more serious than simple pink eye.
Stye (Hordeolum)
A stye is a blocked, infected oil gland along the lash line — essentially a small pimple on the eyelid. Painful, but usually harmless and often resolves within a week or two with home care.
UNTIL YOUR VISIT
Apply a warm (not hot) compress for 10–15 minutes, 3–4 times a day — this is the single most effective home treatment • keep the eyelid clean with diluted baby shampoo or lid wipes • never squeeze or pop it • skip eye makeup and contact lenses until it heals.
SEE US SOONER IF
The bump doesn't improve within a week, keeps growing, affects your vision, or the redness and swelling spread beyond the lid to your cheek or brow — spreading redness needs prompt medical attention.
Something in Your Eye
Pollen, pet dander, and dust can inflame the eyes just like they inflame the nose. The telltale sign is itching: if your eyes itch intensely, allergies are the likely culprit. Wilmington's long pollen seasons make this a year-round visitor for many patients.
UNTIL YOUR VISIT
Cool compresses calm itching and swelling • chilled artificial tears rinse allergens off the eye's surface • over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops (like ketotifen) can help — follow the label • don't rub; rubbing releases more histamine and makes itching worse • shower and change clothes after time outdoors • keep windows closed on high-pollen days.
SEE US SOONER IF
Over-the-counter drops aren't cutting it, only one eye is affected, or there's pain or discharge — we can prescribe stronger, longer-lasting relief and rule out other causes.
Something in Your Eye
Beach sand, sawdust, and windblown grit are everyday hazards here. Most surface particles rinse out easily. The danger comes from rubbing — which can grind the particle into the cornea — or from objects that are stuck or embedded.
UNTIL YOUR VISIT
Don't rub. • Blink repeatedly and let tears do the work • flush the open eye with clean water or saline, letting it run across the eye • pull the upper lid gently down over the lower lid and release — the lower lashes can sweep the particle out • wash your hands before touching anywhere near the eye.
CALL RIGHT AWAY IF
The object won't rinse out, it feels embedded, it involves metal or glass, or you still feel scratching pain hours later. Never try to remove an embedded object yourself.
Office: (910) 791-2755 • After hours: (910) 470-6598
Flashes & Floaters
Floaters are tiny clumps in the gel inside your eye that cast shadows on your retina — most people notice a few, especially against bright backgrounds, and gradual, longstanding floaters are usually harmless. But a sudden change is different: it can signal the retina being tugged or torn, which is an emergency.
FOR LONGSTANDING, STABLE FLOATERS
No treatment is usually needed — the brain learns to tune them out • moving your eyes up and down can shift a floater out of your line of sight • mention them at your next comprehensive exam so we can document your baseline.
CALL IMMEDIATELY IF
You notice a sudden shower of new floaters, flashing lights like lightning streaks, a shadow or curtain moving across your vision, or sudden vision loss. These can indicate a retinal tear or detachment — hours matter.
Office: (910) 791-2755 • After hours: (910) 470-6598
Digital Eye Strain
Hours on screens reduce your blink rate by half and keep your focusing muscles locked at one distance. The result: burning eyes, blurred vision at the end of the day, headaches, and neck tension. It won't damage your eyes permanently — but it can make every workday miserable.
EVERYDAY RELIEF
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds • position your screen slightly below eye level, about arm's length away • use artificial tears during long sessions • increase text size instead of leaning in • match screen brightness to the room.
SEE US IF
Symptoms persist despite good habits — an outdated prescription or an undiagnosed focusing issue is often the real culprit, and computer-specific lens options can make a dramatic difference.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Not sure what it is? That's our job.
Describe your symptoms over the phone and we'll tell you how soon you should be seen.
CALL (910) 791-2755