Marina del Rey Optometrist
Emergency Eye Care
Something wrong with your eye today? Call us first. We keep time open for urgent visits and can usually see you the same day.
Urgent Care
Call Before You Come In
An eye problem that appeared suddenly deserves attention the same day rather than next week. Pain, a foreign body sensation, new redness, light sensitivity, or a change in vision are all reasons to pick up the phone. Our front desk will ask a few short questions and tell you what to do next, which is often to come straight in.
Calling first matters. It lets us make room in the schedule, prepare the right room, and know what we are looking at before you arrive. It also lets us tell you the small number of situations where an emergency department is the safer place to go, and give you instructions for the drive over rather than after you get here.
When you arrive, an optometrist evaluates the eye directly, explains what is going on in plain language, and discusses what happens next with you. If the issue needs care beyond our office, we arrange it and stay in the loop rather than handing you a phone number. Follow-up is scheduled before you leave whenever it is appropriate.
What We See
Common Urgent Concerns
Sudden pain
Eye pain that starts abruptly, whether sharp or aching, is worth evaluating the same day rather than waiting to see if it settles. Tell us when it started, whether anything happened just before, and whether light makes it worse when you call.
Vision changes
New blur, a shadow, a curtain across part of your sight, double vision, or a sudden increase in floaters or flashes all warrant prompt attention. These are the calls we prioritize, and the front desk will tell you immediately where to go.
Redness and discharge
A red, watery, or sticky eye can come from several very different causes, and they are not treated the same way. Being seen means the cause is identified rather than guessed at, which matters if one eye has already passed it to the other.
Foreign body or injury
Something in the eye, a scratch, a blow to the eye area, or an accident at work all need looking at directly. Do not rub the eye, and do not try to remove anything embedded. Call us on the way and we will tell you what to do in the meantime.
Chemical or light exposure
Splashes, fumes, welding flash, and intense light exposure are urgent. Flushing the eye with clean water for several minutes usually comes first, and severe chemical exposure belongs in an emergency department — call and we will tell you which applies.
Contact lens problems
A lens that will not come out, or an eye that becomes red and painful during lens wear, should be seen quickly. Take the lens out if you can, keep it, and bring the case and solution with you so we can see exactly what was being used.
Who It's For
Call Us Today If
Not every eye problem is an emergency, but the ones below are worth a phone call the same day. If you are unsure, call anyway — the front desk would rather triage it than have you wait it out.
- Sudden eye pain or aching
- A noticeable change in vision
- New flashes, floaters, or a shadow
- Something in your eye that will not rinse out
- A blow or scratch to the eye area
- A chemical splash or intense light exposure
- A red, painful eye during contact lens wear
- Swelling around the eye with pain
What To Expect
Your Urgent Visit
- 1
The phone call
The front desk asks what happened, when it started, whether vision has changed, and whether there was any injury or exposure. That short conversation decides how quickly we see you, what to do before you arrive, and in rare cases whether an emergency department is the safer option.
- 2
Arrival and history
We take a focused history rather than a full routine workup: the timeline, what you have already tried, your medications, whether you wear contact lenses, and any relevant medical history. Bring your lenses or their case, your glasses, and a medication list if you have one to hand.
- 3
Vision and pressure check
We measure vision in both eyes and check what is needed for the situation, which may include eye pressure. These baseline numbers matter both for deciding what to do now and for comparing at follow-up, since improvement or deterioration is easier to judge against something recorded.
- 4
Examination of the eye
The optometrist examines the front of the eye under the slit lamp and, where the situation calls for it, looks inside the eye as well. The goal is to identify what is actually happening rather than to treat a symptom, because similar complaints can have very different causes.
- 5
Plan and follow-up
We explain the findings in plain language, discuss what happens next, and agree on it with you. If another specialty needs to be involved we arrange the referral and stay in contact. When a recheck is appropriate, it is scheduled before you leave rather than left to you.
If something is wrong with your eye today, call us — we keep time open for urgent visits.
Our Approach
How We Do It
Triage on the phone
Urgent eye problems are not all equally urgent, and the fastest way to sort that out is a short conversation. Our front desk asks a set of specific questions and escalates to a doctor when the answers call for it, so the response matches the situation rather than the order of the queue. That call also tells you what to do in the meantime — flush the eye, remove the lens, leave it alone — and, in the small number of cases where a hospital is the right place, sends you there immediately instead of after a wasted trip.
An explanation, not just a plan
Eye problems are frightening partly because they are hard to see for yourself. So we spend time on the explanation: what the examination found, what it means, what to watch for over the next day or two, and which changes should bring you straight back. You leave with instructions you can actually follow and a clear threshold for calling us again. Where care beyond our office is needed, we make the arrangements and follow up, rather than handing over a referral and losing track of the outcome.
Insurance
Plans We Accept
We accept VSP, EyeMed, Heritage, Blue Shield, and Medicare. For urgent visits, we check your coverage as quickly as possible and explain your expected copay or deductible. Out-of-network patients are welcome and receive itemized paperwork for reimbursement.
Accepted plan
Accepted plan
Accepted plan
Accepted plan
Accepted plan
We do not delay urgent care over paperwork. If you need to be seen today, come in and our front desk will sort out benefits alongside your visit rather than before it. Where a follow-up or additional testing carries a separate cost, you get an estimate before it is scheduled. Questions about a statement? Call (310) 305-2950 and ask for the front desk.
Meet Our
Doctors
Dr. Shahrokh Dayyani
O.D.
Comprehensive eye care with a focus on ocular disease management and specialty contact lens fittings.
Dr. Kayla Ueda
O.D.
Comprehensive exams for all ages, dry eye treatment, and pediatric myopia management.
Dr. Sarah Maasarani
O.D.
Board-certified optometrist with residency training in ocular disease and a focus on preventive, patient-centered care.
Patient Reviews
What Patients Say
Visit Us
Marina del Rey
4718 3/4 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Office Hours
| Monday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
| Thursday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
| Friday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
| Saturday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
| Sunday | 11:00am – 4:00pm |
FAQ
Common Questions
Eye Problem Today?
Call us first and we will tell you exactly what to do. Urgent visits are usually seen the same day.