Eye Surgery at UPMC Mercy

Emergency and Trauma Eye Care

UPMC Mercy is a Level I trauma center with the ability to care for patients with serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. The doctors of UPMC Eye Center Mercy are on call 24/7 to provide emergency eye care.

Our ophthalmologists have the experience and resources to treat all emergency and trauma vision needs, including those resulting from eye trauma, chemical burns, infections, and medical emergencies (such as a detached retina).

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact a UPMC Eye Center Mercy ophthalmologist immediately or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department for treatment:

• Blind spots
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Flashes of light
• Floaters in great numbers
• Sudden intolerance to bright light
• Poor central vision
• Trauma to the eyes, eye socket or face*

* Blunt force injuries can damage interior parts of the eye that may not be obvious until long after the incident occurred.

Same-Day Eye Surgery

Thanks to minimally invasive surgical techniques, most eye surgeries today can be performed as same-day, outpatient procedures at UPMC Mercy. For most patients, minimally invasive surgeries typically mean smaller incisions, less bleeding, fewer infections, and faster recovery times.

Same-day eye surgeries performed by UPMC Eye Center Mercy ophthalmologists include:

• Cataract surgery
• Cornea transplant surgery
• Cosmetic surgery (including eyelid lifts and brow lifts)
• Diabetic eye treatment (laser retinopathy)
• Eye muscle surgery
• Glaucoma surgery
• Laser vision correction (allowing patients to see without glasses or contact lenses)
• Retinal surgery (UPMC’s only Pittsburgh-based hospital to offer this procedure as same-day surgery)
• Vitrectomy

Inpatient Surgery

Patients with complex eye problems, eye cancer, or who have experienced eye trauma may require inpatient surgery and hospitalization. UPMC Eye Center Mercy ophthalmologists will work with you to determine the best course of action for your vision needs.