According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus , the average dilation lasts from 4 to 24 hours. However, doctors may recommend avoiding driving while the eyes remain dilated, especially if the person has not experienced the effects before. Where possible, people should arrange for a friend or family member to drive them home after their eye exam.
Eye dilation can cause several side effects. The most immediate effect is stinging, which generally occurs when the eye dilation drops come into contact with the eyes. In some cases, doctors may apply numbing drops to the eye beforehand to prevent the stinging sensation. In very rare cases, a person may experience an allergic reaction to the eye dilation drops, which may result in red and swollen eyes.
More severe allergic reactions could produce the following symptoms:. Wearing sunglasses: People can take a pair of sunglasses along to their eye appointment to wear after the eye exam.
Wearing these will help protect eyes that are light-sensitive due to pupil dilation. Most eye doctors provide temporary sunglasses for their patients. Avoiding close work: Close work, such as reading and focusing on a computer screen, can be difficult during eye dilation. People whose jobs involve these tasks should arrange a few extra hours off work, where possible.
Eye dilation can sometimes result in a temporary condition called cycloplegia. Cycloplegia is paralysis of the eye muscle that allows a person to focus. For most people, cycloplegia occurs only while the eye dilation drops are taking effect. In rare cases, eye dilation may cause cycloplegia to last for several days.
Although this can be very concerning, the condition is temporary and will go away with time. Having certain preexisting eye conditions may also complicate the effects of eye dilation. In some cases, these visual problems may worsen while the eye dilation drops are taking effect.
Eye dilation is necessary for several types of eye test. These tests are important for detecting various eye conditions and diseases in their early stages. However, light tends to seem brighter after dilation, and the increased glare can make driving difficult. We always encourage patients to bring sunglasses for the drive home, and we also provide wraparound shades for further coverage. If you do work that involves fine detail and close reading, yes. It will likely be pretty difficult to get work done.
A lot of patients with jobs that involve reading choose to have their appointments later in the afternoon, so they have most of the day to work uninhibited. A little-known fact: if you are already nearsighted, you are actually in luck!
Provided you have the right range of visual acuity, you might be able to simply take off your glasses and read at the distance your eyes naturally want to use. The important thing is to use caution as long as your vision is blurry or your eyes are light sensitive. Dilation is harmless in the long term, but it does come with short-term side effects.
These will usually last for about four to six hours. Dilation allows an eye doctor to look inside your eyes. The widened pupil allows your doctor to use a magnifying lens to look inside your eye and at the back of your eye. It also helps diagnose some chronic conditions that affect more than your eye, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. This is because those conditions can lead to changes in the eye. For example, high blood pressure could damage the blood vessels in your retina, which can be seen only when your eye is dilated.
Dilating drops can also be used to treat certain eye conditions. Dilating drops used as treatment have the same effects as drops used during exams. They can also help diagnose diseases, both those that affect the eye only and other chronic conditions. A complete exam includes dilation. Schedule an eye exam every year if you or your child:. Annual eye exams are also recommended for all adults over 60, regardless of any eye conditions. African-Americans and Hispanics should have annual eye exams beginning at age
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