Mydriatic eye drops, which are used to prepare the eye for an ophthalmological examination, are sometimes misused in children. They can cause serious, sometimes fatal side effects, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) warned on Wednesday.
These eye drops allow the pupil to dilate and force the accommodation of the eye to rest. Badly administered, these eye drops can pass into the bloodstream and reach the digestive, cardiovascular and / or central nervous system, especially in very young children, underlines the ANSM. However, “serious, sometimes fatal adverse effects” are regularly reported.
Strictly respect the dosage
To avoid undesirable effects and prevent the risk of overdose, “it is essential to respect the contraindications specified in the instructions”, specifies the ANSM. It is also necessary to take care to follow and respect the methods of administration of the eye drops and the maximum dosages.
After the administration of eye drops, it is also recommended to press “on the inner corner of the child’s eye for one to two minutes” and “to wipe the child’s cheek” in order to avoid any ingestion or absorption by contact with the skin and thus limit the passage of the product into the bloodstream. In the event of an adverse reaction, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
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