Drug reactions reported in a survey of South Carolina

A survey of the membership of the South Carolina Ophthalmological Society revealed an average of 3 1/2 patient drug reactions per year per physician using topical diagnostic drugs in the office. The reactions to the drugs included topical allergic responses, acute glaucoma, cardiovascular collapse, and one death. All of the reactions had previous been attributed to these drugs in the literature. Suggestions are presented to prevent these reactions from occurring or to better prepare the ophthalmologist and his staff to manage these problems when they do arise.