Clinical and legal aspects of pupillary dilation

Dilation is an integral part of primary care, and the use of this technique has important clinical and legal implications that should be understood by optometrists. The indications and contraindications for dilation, the selection of the appropriate pharmaceutical agent, the documentation of drug use, and the duty to warn of the effects of mydriasis are aspects of this issue which require the optometrist to comply with the standard of care. In this paper, we offer our personal view of these various obligations, and suggest clinical and legal means of dealing with them.