Hello,
     I am an internal medicine physician who is breastfeeding my 20 mo old
daughter.   I went to have my eyes dialated for a retinal exam this week which
is an elective procedure for high myopia.  The optometrist told me he has a
rule that he does not do eye dialations on pregnant and breastfeeding women
because the package inserts on the drugs:  proparacaine, hydroxyamphetamine
and phenylephrine, all topical eye drops, state that they should be used with
caution  during lactation.  I tried to argue with him that even if
infinitecimal amounts entered the milk that the drugs are probably denatured
in the stomach.  He said he would have to have some kind of documentation of
this and that he would like to learn but that he was not prepared to take the
risk of introducing those drugs to me and my child.  Needless to say I was
really steamed, this was my 2 appt with him for a dialation that he cancelled
the first time for a medical emergency and I have difficulty finding the time
in my schedule to even get an appointment.
     Could someone send me some kind of documentation or case study showing
that these topical drugs are safe for lactating women especially in these
small amounts of one or two drops in each eye.  I even asked what kind of
preparations they would use in a child of my daughters age and he said the
same preparation just a weaker strength but still refused to perform the
proceedure.
     I guess I just do not understand peoples unwillingness to educate
themselves.
     Thanks for listening to my ranting and raving.

                                                                   Cynthia S.
Marske DO