Eye Infection

[robinsratsnest]

My husband got a mist of coolant around his safety glasses at work.  He used the eye wash station and reported it.   This has happened before, possibly 2 other times in the past 10 years.  Past times resulted in mild eye infection that was treated by our doctor w/ drops.  This time he got a severe infection that he treated for 2 weeks with little results.  He was sent to a specialist.  Treatment plan, antibiotic drops, steroid drops, as well as some type of drops to help his pupil to shrink.  Although his redness has diminished, his pupil is HUGE and he has very poor vision from that eye.  This is after about 2 1/2 weeks of incident and 1 week of specialist treatment plan.  I tried to surf net for information with little results.  Any guess of outcome would be appreciated.  Thank you.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You need to call his doctor.  Homatropine is used to dilate his eyes.  He is getting an antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) and an anti-inflammatory medication (prednisolone acetate, a steroid).  You are incorrect about the pupil still being so large and that implies that the prognosis will not be good.

Pupils are dilated when there in inflammation inside his eye.

Dr. O.

[robinsratsnest]

Yes, I agree, diagnosis would be helpful.  Unfortunately, I was not present at the appointment.  Yes, they did dilate both his eyes at the visit.  Although one was already dilated from infection.  These are the drops that were prescribed.  Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension. 1%.   Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.3%.   Homatropine 5%.
This is my husbands take on the appointment.   " My pupil is stuck and I have these drops to get it unstuck.  I go back next week." My husband is a hard working machinist.  He can imagine, design, and create anything mechanical but has zero understanding of anything medical.
I have requested for him to obtain a written diagnosis as I will be at work when he goes this next week.  Curiosity is getting to me as I feel that due to his pupil still being so large the prognosis will not be good.
Thank you for your patience.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

It would be helpful if you could mention the diagnosis given by the doctor.  The dilated pupils is probably due to drops.  Doctors usually use a drop to dilated the pupil, not one to make it shrink.

Dr. O.