Pupil dilation and driving: guidelines for ophthalmic nurses and technicians

Ophthalmic nurses and technicians often instill the dilating eyedrops before patients undergo ocular examination. These drops may cause some problems for patients who will be driving afterward. As professional health care providers, we have a duty to inform patients not only before the appointment but also prior to the instillation of the dilating drops that their vision may be altered due to the dilating eyedrops. It is extremely common for patients to have their pupils dilated when attending an ophthalmic outpatient appointment. This is to aid in the examination of the lens, vitreous, and fundus. The most common eyedrop used for pupil dilation in tropicamide 1%. This produces mydriasis and a small amount of cycloplegia. Mydriasis can last for several hours after instillation.