
<PAGE>   1


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                August 30, 1996




                             Quest Medical, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             Texas                  0-10521               75-1646002     
        --------------        -------------------   ---------------------
       (State or other            (Commission           (IRS employer
       jurisdiction of           file number)        identification no.)
        incorporation)
      


                   201 Allentown Parkway, Allen TX  75002
             ---------------------------------------------------
             (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

              Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (214) 390-9800
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ITEM 5.      OTHER EVENTS

             On August 26, 1996, the Registrant's Board of Directors voted to
redeem the rights outstanding under the Rights Agreement between the Registrant
and KeyCorp Shareholder Services, Inc. dated October 12, 1989 (as amended), and
adopted a new Rights Agreement pursuant to which Rights to purchase shares of
the Registrant's Common Stock will be distributed as a dividend, one Right per
share, to record owners of the registrant's Common Stock as of the close of
business on September 12, 1996.  The Rights Agreement was not adopted in
response to any known offers for the Registrant.  The Registrant's press
release and letter to shareholders announcing the Board's action, each dated
August 30, 1996, are attached hereto as Exhibits 20.1 and 20.2, respectively,
and are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

ITEM 7.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

             (c) Exhibits.

                 The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report:

                 4.1      Rights Agreement between Quest Medical Inc. and
                          KeyCorp Shareholder Services, Inc. as Rights Agent.

                 20.1     Press release dated August 30, 1996.

                 20.2     Letter to Shareholders of Quest Medical, Inc. dated
                          August 30, 1996, including attached Summary of Rights
                          to Purchase Shares of Quest Medical, Inc. Common
                          Stock.




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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereto duly authorized.

Date:  September 3, 1996

                              QUEST MEDICAL, INC.

                              By:   /s/   F. Robert Merrill III
                                  ---------------------------------
                                  F. Robert Merrill III
                                  Senior Vice President Finance/
                                  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                              




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                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                               -----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                     
  NO.     DESCRIPTION
- -------   -----------
<S>       <C>
 4.1      Rights Agreement between Quest Medical Inc. and
          KeyCorp Shareholder Services, Inc. as Rights Agent.

 20.1     Press release dated August 30, 1996.

 20.2     Letter to Shareholders of Quest Medical, Inc. dated
          August 30, 1996, including attached Summary of Rights
          to Purchase Shares of Quest Medical, Inc. Common
          Stock.


</TABLE>

