It’s not the most comfortable experience, but…
Dilation is a crucial component of your eye exam. Dilating drops enlarge your pupils to allow more light to enter the eye, giving the doctor a better view of the interior and back of your eye. Think of it as looking through a keyhole – the larger and wider the keyhole, the more you can see into the room behind the door.
Why is dilation important?
- It enables your optometrist to more accurately determine your prescription by unmasking the effect of accommodation.
- It helps to identify eye conditions in children, such as amblyopia (lazy eye).
- It helps detect retinal conditions, glaucoma, and other neurological conditions
If it’s so important, why isn’t it done in every eye exam?
Although it is recommended for everyone, dilation is not absolutely necessary for all patients and situations. Dilation can cause blurry near vision and light sensitivity for several hours after the drops are applied. To determine if dilation is needed and appropriate, your optometrist considers several factors:
- Age. The risk of eye diseases increases with age, so dilation is highly recommended for adults/seniors. In children, it helps to determine a more accurate prescription that is not masked by their accommodation system.
- Ocular history/ Family history. Having a history of eye diseases can predict your risk for developing certain conditions. Genetics plays a role in many ocular diseases.
- Overall health. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and other systemic conditions increase the likelihood of developing eye problems.
- Presenting symptoms. Symptoms that draw patients into the exam room may warrant a dilated exam. Flashes, floaters, or curtain veil over vision warrant immediate dilation, as they can be a sign of a serious condition.
