The College of Optometrists

i was wondering can we dilate a downs px? what are the contraindications for doing this?Are there any other further checks we need carry out dilating apart from IOPs and ant angle?

Also are entry level optometrists allowed to use phenylephrine?

I don't think there are any special precautions for people with downa.

Phenylephrine is not allowed for entry level optoms.

Sorry to drag this thread back up, not visited for a while!

My understanding is that phenylephrine 2.5 and 10% is a P medicine, and as such available to all optoms to use (and indeed to sell or supply, although I can't think of a situation where this would be useful) in the course of their professional practice.

Yes you can dilate a Down's syndrome patient. We regularly dilate and cycloplege Down's syndrome patients in the HES. I am not aware we have had a problem as yet.

Things to consider are the increased prevalence of kerataconus in Down's syndrome patients and probably more significantly the problems with accommodation experienced by up to 40% of Down's syndrome patients. We are doing dynamic retinoscopy and prescribing bifocals for those with obvious accommodative lag. Worth looking at Maggie Woodhouse's work at Cardiff for more information on this.