Jacalyn Higley always had good vision and good eye health.   However, she went to the Heritage Vision Clinic for a comprehensive eye examination and to get a prescription for reading glasses.  She found reading more difficult as she aged.  At the exam, she mentioned that her mother had glaucoma and the optometrist on duty recommended dilating her eyes so that a better look could be had at the back of the eye.  The exam was said to be normal and Mrs. Higley was sent home with a new prescription for reading glasses.  Several hours later, Mrs. Higley experienced extreme pain in her eye and called the optometrist, who said that pain was not out of the ordinary following an eye dilation.  When the pain persisted, Mrs. Higley called again and was given the same reassurance.  Then, two more calls were made.  During the fourth call, Mrs. Higley experienced such severe pain that she literally fell to the ground, where her children found her several hours later.  Mrs. Higley was rushed to the hospital where an ophthalmologist diagnosed an acute glaucoma attack related the dilation of her eyes.  Several surgical procedures were done to relieve the pressure and Mrs. Higley was placed on glaucoma medication.  Eventually, Mrs. Higley’s pressures were brought under control, but not before there was some damage to her optical nerve and loss of field of vision.   Mrs. Higley then learned that the eye clinic should never have disregarded her phone calls. She learned that pain following a dilation of the eyes  is considered and extreme emergency.  She should have been brought back immediately, or sent to a hospital.  Early control of the problem could have avoided all permanent injury.  Mrs. Higley then brought suit against the clinic and the optometrist—both of whom settled with Mrs. Higley.