Vision Source Mandan Blog

Think You Have an Eye Infection? Skip Urgent Care and Call Your Eye Doctor Instead

Your eye is red, irritated, and producing discharge, so your first instinct is to head to urgent care. That visit will likely end with a prescription for antibiotic eye drops, regardless of what’s actually causing your symptoms. The problem is that most red eye cases are not bacterial, and antibiotics do nothing for viral infections or allergic reactions. Without the right tools to examine your eye, urgent care providers often treat the symptom rather than the cause.

At Vision Source Mandan, we offer same-day appointments for eye emergencies so you can skip the guesswork and get a real diagnosis. Dr. Brittany Schauer, Dr. Wayne Aberle, and Dr. Danielle Dyke have the diagnostic equipment to look closely at what’s actually happening on the surface of your eye, and they’re committed to making sure you leave with the right treatment, not just a prescription that may not help.

Why Urgent Care Gets Eye Infections Wrong

Urgent care clinics don’t have the tools needed to properly examine an eye. Without a slit lamp microscope, a provider can’t distinguish between bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, and an allergic reaction. All three can cause redness and discharge, but they require completely different treatments. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, most pink eye cases are caused by viruses or allergies, neither of which responds to antibiotics.

Prescribing antibiotics anyway doesn’t just fail to help; it can also cause unnecessary side effects, add to antibiotic resistance, and cost you money for a treatment that was never going to work. Getting to an eye doctor first is the more direct path to feeling better.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

My annual eye exam is always an excellent experience with Dr. Danielle Dyke. The exam is always thorough, and Dr. Dyke takes the time to explain my eye health in a way I can understand. The Vision Source eye clinic is modern, clean, and the staff is very welcoming. I always feel comfortable and well-cared for at my appointment. I highly recommend Dr. Dyke and Vision Source!

Patricia G.

Dr. Schauer did an amazing job getting my eye infection cleared up. As I sat in my room waiting my turn, because I had a last minute appointment, I could hear her working with a family next door that had young kids.

Fred S.

Whenever I have had eye issues, they have made efforts to get me in asap. Which I really appreciate. I have had Dr. Aberle and Dr. Dyke and they are both excellent. Recently, I saw Dr. Aberle for a chronic eye problem in one eye & he fixed the problem. Honestly, it felt like a miracle. The office staff is also very pleasant to deal with.

Sheila S.

I've literally been a lifelong customer since 5th grade when it was Dr. Little! Dr. Schauer has taken over since Dr. Little retired. It's always a good, friendly experience with all of the staff there. I've never had a bad experience.

Bill S.

The front desk people are very nice and friendly got called in to see Wayne before my appointment time Vision Source has very friendly staff and the clinic is very clean will always be a patient to Vision Source.

Deborah C.

I was greeted by the front desk very efficiently. The person who did the first part of my history and did the testing like the little spritz in my eyes, etc, was very good. I really like my eye doctor, I feel that I get all my questions answered as well as she explains what she is seeing when she is examining my eyes.

Dolly A.

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