What happens if your eyes are dilated

Dilating eye drops do have side effects, including increased sensitivity to light and difficulty focusing up close for a few hours. They may also cause blurry vision. This means you should give yourself plenty of time not only for the exam but for the recovery time itself. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses can protect eyes from bright sunlight. You might also consider alternative transportation home since you may have trouble driving. Eye dilation may not be necessary, although your doctor will consider factors such as eye health and age.

Diabetes, or a history of eye disease, will be another reason for pupil dilation. African Americans are advised to get a dilated eye exam beginning at age 40 because of a higher risk of glaucoma.

To schedule an eye exam, or for any questions about dilated eye exams, you can call our eye care specialists at This can be important for determining whether the visual pathways for each eye are functioning properly. When the angle is narrow, only portions of the drainage angle are visible, and in acute angle-closure glaucoma, none of it is visible.

Part of a glaucoma examination is formal visual field testing , where your peripheral, or side vision, is tested. Ideally, your eyes are not dilated during this test. Finally, there are other parts of the front of the eye, the iris for example, which should be examined when your eyes are not dilated. The view to the back of the eye is limited when the pupil is not dilated. When your pupil is small, an eye doctor can see your optic nerve and macula but the view is limited. In order to see the entire retina, the pupil must be dilated.

This is achieved through the use of eye drops. When eyes are dilated during an eye exam, it typically takes hours for pupils to return to normal. Some individuals may experience eye dilation that lasts longer. Once your eyes are dilated, there is an increase in light sensitivity because the pupil is large and more light is coming through, so bring your sunglasses , or your ophthalmologist may provide some disposable shades for your use.

You may also experience blurry vision, particularly if you are trying to read. If it is your first time having your eyes dilated or you know your vision is too impaired for driving after dilation, bring a friend or companion to drive you home from your examination.

While in the past there were some eye drops that could reverse the dilation, these are no longer available, so you will have to wait the hours before the drops completely wear off. The optic nerve can be seen through an undilated pupil, but for optimum viewing a dilated pupil is required. This is important for the diagnosis of glaucoma , as well as other diseases of the optic nerve. Learn about what to expect during a glaucoma eye exam. Eye exams are a crucial part of maintaining good eye health, this is true.

But, many may be confused about how an eye doctor performs an eye exam. What technology and procedures are involved? And how can you be prepared for them? A big part of any eye exam is the eye dilation. This is where your eye doctor will administer special eye drops that widen your pupils so that they can examine them.