UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye Urgent Care

Located on the first floor of UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye, our Eye Urgent Care clinic provides specialized, walk-in care for urgent eye conditions.

Our experienced ophthalmology providers and clinical staff evaluate and treat a wide range of urgent eye concerns, backed by the expertise and resources of UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye.

No appointment is needed.

Eye Urgent Care hours

UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye Urgent Care is open:

• Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Sunday: 1–5 p.m.

What we treat

• Sudden changes in vision
• Eye pain or significant irritation
• Eye injuries and trauma
• Foreign objects in the eye
• Eye redness or swelling
• Flashes or new floaters
• Eye infections and inflammation
• Complications after eye procedures or surgery
• Other urgent eye conditions

NOTE: The clinic does not provide medical care for conditions not related to eyes.

UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye is a complete eye care center serving patients throughout Alabama and the Southeast. When additional specialty care is needed, patients have access to the expertise and resources of UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye and the entire UAB Medicine health system.Eye Urgent Care: 205-325-8254

Many eye injuries happen without our awareness of how they happened or when with symptoms occurring after the initial injury. They may occur from everyday activities such as prolonged wear of contact lenses, a sEye problems sometimes develop suddenly. If you have a new or worsening eye concern, UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye Urgent Care can evaluate and treat you during operating hours.

You should seek urgent eye care for symptoms such as:

• Sudden vision changes or loss of vision
• Eye pain
• A new eye injury
• A foreign object in the eye
• New flashes or floaters
• Significant eye redness or swelling
• Eye discharge or signs of infection
• Changes in vision or other concerns after an eye procedure or surgery

If you are unsure whether your eye concern requires urgent care, our clinical staff can help direct you to the appropriate care.

What if Eye Urgent Care is closed?

For urgent eye problems outside of the hours listed above, please go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation. Emergency medicine providers can consult with the UAB ophthalmology team when specialty eye care is needed. Patients who require additional ophthalmology care may be transferred to the appropriate UAB Medicine facility, based on their condition and clinical needs.

For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911.

UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye continues to provide inpatient ophthalmology services and maintains a 24/7 ophthalmology call team to support emergency cases across UAB Medicine. This includes urgent and emergency surgical care, when needed.

Many eye injuries can be prevented by taking simple precautions at home, at work, and during recreational activities.

Protect your eyes by:

• Wearing appropriate protective eyewear when using power tools, working with chemicals, or participating in activities that could cause an eye injury
• Wearing properly fitted protective eyewear during sports and other recreational activities
• Following workplace safety guidelines
• Keeping chemicals and other potentially hazardous materials away from children
• Never looking directly at fireworks or handling unexploded fireworks
• Following safety instructions when using household chemicals, tools, and other potentially hazardous equipment

If an eye injury occurs

If you have an eye injury, seek medical attention promptly.

Until you receive care:

• Do not rub or apply pressure to the injured eye.
• Do not attempt to remove any object embedded in the eye.
• If a chemical gets into the eye, immediately flush the eye with clean water and seek medical attention.
• For serious injuries or life-threatening conditions, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Fireworks and eye safety

Fireworks can cause serious eye injuries, including permanent vision loss. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional display and maintain a safe distance.

Never allow children to handle fireworks, and do not touch or approach unexploded fireworks. If an eye injury occurs, seek medical attention promptly.