Is it necessary to have eyes dilated during eye exam?

In determining whether eye dilation is necessary for you, your eye doctor may consider: Your age. The risk of eye diseases increases with age. The National Eye Institute recommends a dilated eye exam once every one to two years if you’re 60 or older.

Can you drive after having your eyes dilated?

Many patients do drive themselves after having their eyes dilated, but it is important to remember that you will be sensitive to light, and your vision may be somewhat blurry. You should wear dark sunglasses after your exam.

Do all eye doctors dilate pupils?

Your eye doctor may decide not to dilate your eyes during every exam. They are less likely to dilate your eyes if you do not meet any risk factors for diseases that dilation can reveal.

What would cause your eyes to dilate?

Muscles in the colored part of your eye, called the iris, control your pupil size. Your pupils get bigger or smaller, depending on the amount of light around you. In low light, your pupils open up, or dilate, to let in more light. When it’s bright, they get smaller, or constrict, to let in less light.

Does getting your eyes dilated make you tired?

After: The dilation of your eyes may take a few hours to wear off. Have a friend take you home or to work, and wear sunglasses outside, since your eyes might be light-sensitive. Your eyes may feel tired and heavy after a glaucoma screening.

What happens when your eyes are dilated?

Dilation allows an eye doctor to look inside your eyes. Dilating drops widen the pupil (the black part of your eye) so that it doesn’t get smaller when your doctor shines a light at it. The widened pupil allows your doctor to use a magnifying lens to look inside your eye and at the back of your eye.

What illness causes dilated pupils?

The most common dilated pupil causes include:

• Medications.
• Eye injury.
• Brain injury or disease.
• Recreational drug use.
• Benign episodic unilateral mydriasis.
• Adie’s pupil.
• Congenital aniridia.
• Sexual attraction.

How long do pupils remain dilated after an eye exam?

After a dilated eye exam, your pupils will normally remain open for about three to four hours, sometimes longer. This time varies according to the type of drops used, as well as the color of your eyes.

Why do I need to get my eyes dilated?

If the pupils are dilated due to an abnormal response, they may remain dilated even in the presence of sunlight or strong light. Injury to the brain and taking certain drugs are common causes of abnormally dilated pupils. Both medications and drugs of abuse can result in dilated pupils.

What is the purpose of eye dilation?

Eye dilation assists your doctor in diagnosing common diseases and conditions, possibly at their earliest stages. They include: Eye dilation also makes your vision blurry and your eyes more light sensitive, which, for a few hours, can affect your ability to drive or work.

Is dilating eyes necessary?

Answer: Dilation of the eyes is necessary for a full evaluation of the retina and optic nerve in the back of the eye as well as the blood supply in the back of the eye.