Purpose: To evaluate ophthalmological emergencies in a public reference hospital in Pernambuco. Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective study with 26.358 patients attended in the ophthalmic emergency Altino Ventura Foundation, in the period january to june 2013. Data were collected using protocols based on electronic registration forms of ophthalmological emergency Results: It was observed that 52.5% of patients were male, 42.5% were aged 21-40 years; 90.8% were from the region metropolitan area of Recife; 55% classified as less severe. The main diagnoses were conjunctivitis (35.17%) and ocular trauma (19.25%). Conclusion: The prevalence of male patients, aged 21-40 years, from the metropolitan area of Recife, classified as low complexity, attended in January, on Monday, with the diagnosis of conjunctivitis, followed by ocular trauma.