Nearly fainting at the eye doctor?

BlakeCory · Aug 21, 2008, 03:27 PM

This occurs usually from four activities:

(1) Contact tonometry (both applanation and indentation - the instruments must touch the cornea to get IOP readings)
(2) first-time contact lens trial
(3) slit-lamp biomicroscopy
(4) Insertion of punctal plugs

In all situations, once the patient's eyes or eyelids are touched by the tip of the tonometer, by the doctor or an assistant when inserting a contact lens, or by the doctor's pulling down the patient's lower eyelid for a closer view of the palpebral conjunctiva or the puncta, usually at the slit-lamp, vasovagal reflex kicks in within seconds.

Interestingly, most patients are young and healthy, possibly for the first time in their lives, their eyes are now manipulated by a stranger. The eyes/eyelids are indeed under some mechanical pressure albeit quite minor yet the physical reaction is quite dramatic.

Fr_Chuck · Aug 21, 2008, 03:52 PM

Of you were just sick, perhaps getting the flu or something that is oncomming.

Did you then go to a medical doctor, I would assume a person who passes out, rushes to a medical doctor for a check up ?

finzi · Aug 21, 2008, 08:02 PM

I guess I am surprised because his exam had finished a fair amount earlier than when I began feeling faint; it wasn't an instantaneous response that the vasovagal response seems like. I am young (well, 31), healthy, but I've been to the eye doctor a million times and had a variety of people play with my eyes. I've also read that most people with the vagal response are young men?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Of you were just sick, perhaps getting the flu or something that is oncomming.

Did you then go to a medical doctor, I would assume a person who passes out, rushes to a medical doctor for a check up ?

No flu or sickness. After the smelling salts, the doctor allowed me to sit in the exam room for a while to make sure I was okay. Then they walked me to the waiting room so I could wait for my husband and mother to pick both me and my car up since I didn't think I should be driving home. I was fine for the rest of the day!

For the record, I never lost consciousness/blacked out. Just nauseous feelings and pre-blackout symptoms.

ChihuahuaMomma · Aug 21, 2008, 09:47 PM

I am wondering if you are allergic to proprocaine. Which is the drop used to dilation.

ChihuahuaMomma · Aug 21, 2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlakeCory

This occurs usually from four activities:

(1) Contact tonometry (both applanation and indentation - the instruments must touch the cornea to get IOP readings)
(2) first-time contact lens trial
(3) slit-lamp biomicroscopy
(4) Insertion of punctal plugs

In all situations, once the patient's eyes or eyelids are touched by the tip of the tonometer, by the doctor or an assistant when inserting a contact lens, or by the doctor's pulling down the patient's lower eyelid for a closer view of the palpebral conjunctiva or the puncta, usually at the slit-lamp, vasovagal reflex kicks in within seconds.

Interestingly, most patients are young and healthy, possibly for the first time in their lives, their eyes are now manipulated by a stranger. The eyes/eyelids are indeed under some mechanical pressure albeit quite minor yet the physical reaction is quite dramatic.

None of these activities would cause this sort of reaction. Perhaps being startled. And most doctors use numbing drops before performing tonometry, so most patients don't feel it.

ChihuahuaMomma · Aug 23, 2008, 12:07 AM

I'm sorry, I get my answers from personal experiences, not books. In five years and working with numerous doctors, I've never heard of this happening.

BlakeCory · Aug 23, 2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChihuahuaMomma

I'm sorry, I get my answers from personal experiences, not books. In five years and working with numerous doctors, I've never heard of this happening.

Fortunately fainting is fairly uncommon, but those are not uncommon causes to fainting.

DropatEyeDr · Sep 16, 2009, 08:59 PM

I had the Same thing happen to me today at the eye Doctor!
This same thing happened to me today. I had the eye exam, and felt like I was going to faint. It was so strange. I really felt sick to my stomach.
What I suspect might have happened. Since my experience is so similar to your story above, except I'm a 35 y/o male. I'm not quite sure the numbing drops made it into my eyes. This is my suspicion. My event lasted about an hour or so. Then I was ok. Nothing like this has ever happened at the eye doctor before.

somwhereinmiami · Dec 2, 2009, 09:42 AM

I had the exact experience today - after the numbing drops were put in my eye - right prior to the pressure test I felt sick to my stomach then broke out in a sweat. I have fainted in the past so recognized the symptoms. I went numb from head to toe and had absolutely no strength to hold the water glass the nurse was bringing to help revive me. The doctor tilted my char back to prevent me from fainting forward. The whole episode lasted about 5 minutes, then it took me another 15 to get my act together and leave the doctor office. The doctor assured me that this kind of thing happened on occasion and not to worry. It's more embarrassing than anything else. Next time I go in for a check-up I'll be bringing in a bottle of coca cola - I think it would help to have a few sips both before and after the drops to raise the blood sugar and prevent the fainting feeling. I'm a very healthy 34 yo female.

Nearly fainting at the eye doctor?

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