If you’ve ever had a comprehensive eye exam, you may wonder why the eye doctor chose to dilate your eyes or what the purpose of dilation is. At Eyes to See, we specialize in comprehensive pediatric eye exams and treatments. Today, we want to answer some common questions about eye dilation to help you understand what it is and why it’s important.
What is dilation?
Dilation is done by putting in eye drops that widen the pupils, making the back of the eye more visible. This allows the doctor to perform a more thorough exam.
Why do eye doctors dilate a patient’s eyes?
The back of the eye is always partially visible, but it can be difficult for the doctor to get a conclusive look at it without dilation. Dilation widens the pupils and allows for a fuller view of the parts of the back of the eye that are otherwise hard to see. This includes the retina and optic nerve, which the doctor needs to see to check for certain eye diseases and other health issues.
What does it feel like to have your eyes dilated?
When dilating drops are first put in, they sting a little bit. The feeling is similar to getting pool water in your eyes. However, there is no need to worry because it wears off quickly. As your pupils dilate, your near vision becomes blurry and your eyes may become more sensitive to light. Occasionally, patients may feel sleepy after receiving dilating eye drops.
How long does it take for dilating drops to wear off?
How long it takes for dilating drops to wear off depends on the person. Usually, it takes between 4 and 6 hours. However, it could take more or less time for you. It also depends on the strength of dilating drops used, as stronger ones tend to last longer.
How often should you have a dilated eye exam?
How often one should have a dilated eye exam depends on a variety of factors, such as age or eye and health conditions.
If you are diabetic, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of glaucoma, you may need to have dilated eye exams more frequently. Ask your doctor how often you should have your eyes dilated. If you do not have any eye issues or a family history of them, you may not need to have your eyes dilated as often.
Still, all children should receive vision and ocular behavior testing by their pediatrician or family doctor at one, three and five years old. If you have a family history of eye problems, or issues are discovered by their regular doctor, your child should see an ophthalmologist for a full exam. This allows for any abnormalities or issues that may arise to be diagnosed and treated promptly.
We hope you found this post informative. If your child needs a comprehensive eye exam, give us a call at 616-796-9995, and we’ll gladly assist you with setting up an appointment. Thank you for reading!
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