Any opthamologists or optometrists about?

[prediction500]

Had an eye check and the optometrist used fluorescein eye drops on me. I believe it is a dye? Is this safe to use in pregnancy? They advised it is but I am looking for a second opinion as it is worrying me.

Sorry it was less of a eye drop, more of a swab

Ophtho here. Due is totally safe.

*fluorescein dye.

Thank you so much, you have put my mind at rest!

Happy to help!

@Amoh thanks, I had a Google and it seemed contradictory. Just wondering if it is usual for it to be used on pregnant women? I genuinely think they forgot until they'd done it.

Absolute fine, its a tiny amount of dye.

Using fluorescein drops during an ophthalmic exam is quite routine. I’m guessing the reports you’ve read are speaking of intravenous fluorescein for imaging purposes. Drops are quite different because the systemic absorption is way less.

I’m currently pregnant and whenever a patient has any doubt about the drop, I apply it myself so they see that it’s quite harmless.

I hope this puts your mind at ease.

@Amoh thanks again. Some were talking about IV and others were American sites. What really freaked me out was that it crosses the placenta. Now that I'm thinking more rationally and you have reassured me I'm realising that it is a small amount.

Just one more question if you don't mind and then I will stop and get over it! Is it routinely given to pregnant women due to the low levels, or would it normally be deferred? I want to understand if they've given it to me by accident before the penny dropped that I am pregnant

Don’t worry about it. It’s my pleasure to help. We wouldn’t defer it for a pregnant woman at all (they’d have given it before or after you dropped the penny I imagine). There are drops that are contraindicated in pregnant women though, mind you. So maybe that’s why your caregiver did a double take.

Yes they report it crosses the placenta but:

1. the systemic absorption would be truly minuscule. We have patients with allergies to IV fluorescein but can tolerate a drop just fine.
2. even if it ends up in the placenta, even then, no teratogenic effects have been observed.

Honestly I’d worry more about sitting next to a smoker than bathing in fluorescein.

@Amoh thank you so much. You have put my overthinking mind at rest. I'm sure they're pretty much the same but it was the strips, presume they're the same as the drops just a different method.

Thanks again