Eye Emergency Department

If this is a Medical Emergency, Call 911 Immediately.

 

Hours of Operation

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Telephone: (215) 503-8080
Fax: (215) 503-8088
Physician-only Patient Referral:  1-855-WILLS4U (1-855-945-5748)

Location

Wills Eye Emergency Room StaffWills Eye Emergency Department at Thomas Jefferson University
900 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(Entrance is on 9th Street through Jefferson Hospital for Neurosciences)

  • Wills Eye Emergency Department - Map, Directions, Parking
     

    Map


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    Parking

    Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience Garage
    The Wills Eye Emergency Department is located in the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience Building on 9th Street between Walnut and Locust Streets. For easy access to our Emergency Department, park in the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience Garage. DO NOT PARK in the Walnut Towers Garage.


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    Alternate Parking Sites

    • Walnut Street Theater Lot, 819 Walnut Street (across the street from Wills Eye entrance) map
    • Downtown Garage - enter on Walnut St. between 9th and 10th, and 10th between Sansom and Walnut Sts. Open: Mon.-Sat., 6:30 a.m. - midnight Sun., 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
    • Central - lot at 801 Chestnut St. - enter on 8th St. Open: 7 days, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. map
    • 5-Star Garage - 733 Chestnut St. - enter on 8th St. Open: 7 days, 24 hours map
    • Parkway - lot at 8th and Ludlow Sts. Open: 7 days, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

    Driving Directions

    GPS Coordinates: x: 39.948143  y:-75.154650

    From the Pennsylvania Turnpike
    Exit at Valley Forge. Take Schuylkill Expressway (Rte. 76 East) to I-676 East. Continue on I-676 to the 8th St./Chinatown exit. Turn right on 8th St.(South) and proceed to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. Wills Eye is at 900 Walnut Street.

    From I-95 North from Wilmington
    Take Exit 22, Independence Hall/Callowhill Street, and follow signs for Callowhill Street. Proceed on Callowhill to 8th Street (South). Turn left on 8th and follow it to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. Wills Eye is at 900 Walnut Street.

    From I-95 South from Bucks County
    Take Exit 22, Independence Hall/Callowhill Street. Turn right onto Callowhill Street and proceed to 8th Street (South). Turn left on 8th and follow it to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. Wills Eye is at 900 Walnut Street.

    From New Jersey Shore Points
    Take Atlantic City Expressway North to Rte. 42 North. Take the Ben Franklin Bridge. Get in the left-hand lane and follow signs to 8th St. (South). Turn left on 8th and proceed to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. Wills Eye is at 900 Walnut Street.

    From Central New Jersey
    Routes 70 West and 38 West will take you to the Ben Franklin Bridge. Take the bridge into Philadelphia. Get in the left-hand lane and follow signs to 8th St. (South). Turn left on 8th and proceed to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. Wills Eye is at 840 Walnut Street.

    From New York
    Take the New Jersey Turnpike south to Exit 4 (Rt. 73 North). Follow to Rt. 38 West, to the Ben Franklin Bridge. Get in the left-hand lane and follow signs to 8th St. (South). Turn left on 8th and proceed to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. 900 Walnut Street.

    From Philadelphia International Airport
    Take I-95 North toward Philadelphia. Take Exit 22, Independence Hall/Callowhill Street, and follow signs for Callowhill Street. Proceed on Callowhill to 8th Street (South). Turn left on 8th and follow it to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut. Wills Eye is at 900 Walnut Street.

    Public Transportation

    Wills Eye is easily accessible by public transportation. Market East Station (at 11th and Market Sts.) and Suburban Station (16th and Arch Sts), which serve the suburban regional rail lines, are a few blocks north of Wills Eye. In addition, many of the following public transportation routes are also within walking distance:

    SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) provides transit services for Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Routes nearby Wills Eye are:

    • Bus and trolley routes: 9, 12, 17, 21, 23, 27, 32, 33, 38, 42, 44, 47, 48, 61, 76, 90, C.
    • Subway-surface routes: 10, 11, 13, 34, 36.
    • Subway lines: Broad St. Subway, Market-Frankford Elevated Line.
    • Regional Rail Lines to Market East Station (11th and Market Streets).
    • For information: (215) 580-7800

    PATCO High Speed Line (from New Jersey)
    The PATCO station closest to Wills Eye is at 9th & Locust Streets and is open 4:45 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. everyday. Handicap accessible PATCO stations, open 24 hours/day, 7 days a week, are located at 15-16th & Locust and 8th & Market Streets.

    For more information, call (856) 772-6900 in New Jersey; (215) 922-4600 in Pennsylvania.

    Amtrak www.amtrak.com

    Philadelphia, PA - 30th Street Station (PHL)
    Station Building
    2955 Market Street
    30th Street Station
    Philadelphia, PA 19104

    New Jersey Transit

    • For information in New Jersey: (800) 582-5946
    • For information in Pennsylvania: (215) 569-3752

    Philadelphia International Airport www.phl.org

Seek emergency care if you believe your eyesight is in jeopardy, if you are in severe pain, or if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Pain in or around the eye redness accompanied by pain in the eye
  • Halos (colored circles around lights)
  • New floaters (spots, strings, cobwebs, or shadows before the eyes)
  • Bulging of the eye or swelling of eye tissues
  • Flashes or streaks of light
  • Double vision
  • Sudden crossed, turned or "wandering" eye
  • Discharge, crusting or excessive tearing
  • Eyelids stuck together, especially upon awakening
  • Sudden blurring of vision that persists

If I have an eye injury, can I drive myself to the hospital?

It is important that if you have a severe eye problem, do not try to drive yourself anywhere. If you need to go to the hospital, have a family member or friend come with you, or if necessary, call for an ambulance or take a cab. Even if you can see well enough to drive to the hospital, the emergency department physician may use drops that affect your vision and which will prevent you from driving home from the hospital.

What kinds of problems are seen in the Wills Eye Emergency Department?

The Wills Eye Emergency Department has seen many types of serious eye injuries and conditions, such as:

  • Eye infections
  • Cuts (lacerations) to the eye from car accidents
  • Adverse reactions to contact lenses (i.e., contacts that have become "stuck" to the eye)
  • Sports-related eye injuries
  • Eye pain and vision disturbances caused by chemical exposure
  • Foreign particles in the eye such as small pieces of glass or metal