
<PAGE>   1
                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8 - Nos. 2-82414, 2-91410, 33-235312, and 33-00967) pertaining to the
Quest Medical, Inc. 1979 Amended and Restated Employees' Stock Option Plan; the
Quest Medical, Inc. Directors' Stock Option Plan; the Quest Medical, Inc. 1987
Employees' Stock Option Plan; and the Quest Medical, Inc. 1995 Stock Option
Plan, the Quest Medical, Inc. Sales and Marketing Employees Stock Option Plan,
and the Heaton Stock Option Plan and the related Prospectuses of our report
dated March 6, 1996, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
Quest Medical, Inc. and subsidiaries, included in the Annual Report (Form
10-KSB) for the year ended December 31, 1995.





                                            Ernst & Young LLP

Dallas, Texas
March 29, 1996
