Dilation is a very safe procedure and with the right preparation you should experience little inconvenience and discomfort. The condition may be caused by dilating eye drops from an eye exam, the side effects from a drug/medication or traumatic injury. You may not be able to do any close work that requires eye coordination (such as reading or sewing) for a few hours after the exam. Annual dilated eye exams are recommended for persons with diabetes because early detection and timely treatment of diabetic eye diseases can prevent irreversible vision loss §, ¶ (3,4). Most people experience few side effects other than blurry vision and a sensitivity to light for a few hours after the exam. Dilation is also important for people taking medication such as Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil tm) and prednisone. So if you find your pupils are still dilated the day after your eye exam, dont panic Can I drive after dilation In general, you can. People with diabetes should have their eyes dilated at least once a year so that their doctors can monitor the effects of the disease on their retinas. Typically, your pupils will automatically constrict. After dilation, this is even more important to remember.

The procedure allows your eye doctor to examine your eyes for problems such as retinal detachments, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Besides avoiding driving, other precautions you should take after having your eyes dilated include: Don’t hang out in the sun: You should never look directly at the sun as it can damage your eyes. Doctors use dilated exams to screen for any problems that might threaten your vision. You don't need to have something wrong with your eyes to require a dilated exam. It’s especially important if you’re having eye pain or vision. Another aspect of dilation is that it may help determine your true refractive error because it stops your eye from focusing, This can be helpful for your corrective lens prescription. If there are any signs of problems or disease, there is a better chance of detecting them by viewing the entire internal eye. But it gives your doctor a good look inside your eye. A dilated eye exam allows the doctor to measure the degree of light refraction. When the pupils are dilated, it's like opening the door of the closet, allowing the doctor to see a larger area including the outer edges of the eye. Looking through a normal pupil is like looking through a keyhole into a closet. With the pupils dilated, your doctor has a better view of the lens (the clear part of the eye behind the pupil that light travels through) and the retina (the back lining of the eye that contains the optic nerve and the only visible blood vessels in the body). If you’re age 60 or older, get a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years. These drops cause your pupils (the black areas in the center of the eyes) to open wider (dilate). An eye doctor can check for cataracts as part of a dilated eye exam. A dilated examination allows your eye doctor to see the entire inside of your eye by using eyedrops.

Dilated eye exam