Eye health resource
Will I Need to Have My Eyes Dilated At My Eye Exam?
Dilation is not necessary at every Park Slope Eye visit. Learn when retinal imaging may be enough for a routine exam and when dilation is still important.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
Not every eye exam at Park Slope Eye requires dilation. Nearly all of our patients choose Optos wide-angle retinal imaging, and in routine care that imaging very often provides the retinal view and documentation the doctor needs without dilating the pupils.
That does not mean retinal imaging permanently replaces dilation. If your symptoms, medical history, risk factors, or examination findings make a dilated view important, the doctor may still recommend dilation.
What Does Dilation Do?
Dilating drops temporarily widen the pupil. A larger pupil allows the doctor to examine more of the inside of the eye with specialized lenses and instruments.
A dilated examination can be especially useful for evaluating the retina and optic nerve and for investigating symptoms or findings that require a broader or more detailed view.
What Can a Dilated Exam Help Detect?
Dilation can be an important part of evaluating conditions such as:
- diabetic retinopathy
- retinal tears or detachment
- age-related macular degeneration
- glaucoma and optic-nerve disease
- retinal vascular disease
- inflammation or other abnormalities inside the eye
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. Eye pressure is an important risk factor in many cases, but glaucoma is not simply “high pressure in the optic nerve,” and some people develop glaucoma even when measured eye pressure is within a typical range.
Why Does Park Slope Eye Use Optos Retinal Imaging?
Optos is high-resolution, ultra-widefield retinal photography. It captures a broad image of the retina quickly and without touching the eye.
The image gives the doctor a documented retinal view that can be reviewed during the visit and compared with future images. In routine examinations, it very often provides the information needed without the inconvenience of dilating drops.
Many children around age 5 and older also do well with the imaging, which can make the retinal portion of a routine pediatric exam easier.
Does Optos Completely Replace Dilation?
No. Retinal photography and dilation are different tools.
Optos creates a wide-angle photograph. Dilation enlarges the pupil so the doctor can directly examine the inside of the eye with different views and techniques. There are situations in which the doctor may want both imaging and dilation.
For example, dilation may be recommended when there are concerning flashes or floaters, a suspected retinal tear, unexplained vision loss, certain diabetic or retinal findings, significant eye trauma, or another finding that needs closer evaluation.
What About OCT?
Optical coherence tomography, or OCT, is another non-contact test, but it is not the same as retinal photography. OCT creates cross-sectional images of structures such as the retina and optic nerve and can reveal structural detail that a photograph cannot.
Optos, OCT, and dilation can complement one another. The appropriate combination depends on what the doctor is trying to evaluate.
How Does the Doctor Decide Whether I Need Dilation?
The decision is individualized. Factors can include:
- your symptoms
- age and overall eye-health risk
- diabetes, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions
- family or personal history of eye disease
- previous retinal problems or eye surgery
- what the doctor sees on retinal imaging or the rest of the examination
There is no single dilation schedule that is right for every person. People at higher risk for eye disease may need dilated examinations more often than low-risk patients.
What Should I Expect If My Eyes Are Dilated?
The drops usually cause temporary light sensitivity and blur at near. The effect commonly lasts for several hours, although duration varies by patient and by the drops used.
Sunglasses can make bright light more comfortable afterward. If your near vision is significantly blurred, driving or other visually demanding activities may be uncomfortable until the drops wear off.
So, Will I Be Dilated at Park Slope Eye?
For a routine exam, often not. Most patients choose Optos retinal imaging, and it very often gives us the retinal documentation we need without routine dilation.
If dilation is clinically important, however, we will explain why we recommend it. The goal is not to avoid dilation at all costs; it is to use the right examination method for the individual patient.
Learn more about comprehensive eye exams at Park Slope Eye, or book an appointment online.
Originally published . Substantially updated .