Eye Fashion Optical Dilated Eye Exam near you in Waco, Texas
Having your eyes dilated during an eye exam may seem like a nuisance. But when you consider the benefits of a dilated eye exam, the temporary blurred vision and sensitivity to light that typically follow are definitely worth it.

What Are Dilated Eye Exams?

During a thorough eye examination, your optometrist will beam a strong light into your eyes to look at the retina, which is the back of your eye. The issue is that intense light causes the pupil’s opening to contract, making it difficult for the optometrist to see a significant amount of the retina.

To keep the pupils open, eye physicians use specialized eye drops in each eye. The focusing lens, the retina’s blood vessels and tissues, the optic nerve, the macula, and other components of your eye can all be evaluated with far greater accuracy when your pupil is dilated.

Dilating the eyes makes it easier for your optometrist to detect the following conditions and diseases:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Macular degeneration
• Retinal tumor
• Retinal detachment or retinal tears
• Eye floaters

It’s important to note that many of these conditions can develop without noticeable symptoms, until they cause vision loss at which point treatment may be more challenging, making dilated eye exams all the more crucial.

The Dilation Process

In order to cause pupil dilatation, your eye doctor will first apply eye drops to each eye. After ten to twenty minutes, your eyes should be completely dilated.

For four to six hours, your eyes will stay dilated, and you can become light-sensitive during this time. This is because the eye can receive more light than usual due to the bigger pupil. Sunglasses are more comfortable for many patients until their eyesight improves.

Dilated eyes can cause blurred vision and make it difficult to read and use a computer. Some people complain of headaches or a tightness of their eyelids.

Dilated eye exams are a crucial part of keeping your eyes healthy. To schedule your comprehensive eye exam, call our optometry practice today!

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At what age should one have a dilated eye exam?

Regardless of your age, you should get a dilated eye exam. Regardless of age, the majority of eye doctors will dilate a new patient during their initial examination in order to establish a baseline for retinal health.

Will I be able to return to work after a dilated eye exam?

It’s hard to tell because everyone reacts differently. It could be difficult if your profession demands you to pay attention to details or small print. Dilated pupils can also make writing and typing challenging. To be safe, schedule your appointment for the end of the workday, clear your schedule following your eye exam, and limit your activities to those that don’t require a lot of visual processing.