Responsibilities And Ramifications Of Pulpillary Dilation: A Legal Perspective.

The standard of care now is for optometrists to routinely dilate patients' pupils for thorough examination. This not only has clinical implications for the patient but also has legal ramifications for the optometrist Optometrists must recognize those circumstances when a patient's pupils should be dilated and when dilation is contraindicated. This paper suggests some of these circumstances and how to deal with legal issues such as documentation and informed consent. It offers recommendations for clinical issues such as which dilating drops to use for dilation and for reversal of dilation, and suggests some practice management techniques.