Dilation

Dilation of the pupil is important for the inspection of the internal structures of the eye. An examination including dilation can detect serious conditions of the eye, like tumors, retinal detachments, hemorrhages and other conditions that can cause floaters, flashes, or spots appearing suddenly in the vision. There are no pain receptors inside of the eye, so thorough examination with dilation is often the first step in diagnosing a condition that could possibly have devastating effects on your vision.

Without dilation, it is difficult or impossible to determine the health of the retina. It is part of a comprehensive eye examination and is considered standard of care by most eye care providers. During this part of the examination the doctor uses different instruments to evaluate the health of the retina. Often, a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope is used, which is a specialized microscope with a bright light that the doctor wears on his/her head to view the retina. This instrument is valuable for evaluating the periphery of the retina. Many doctors also use a slit lamp and a small lens held in front of the eye to evaluate the central part of the retina.

Due to the widening of the pupil, dilation may cause light sensitivity (usually less than 4 hours, but it may last longer depending upon eye color). Most patients experience difficulty reading for several hours after dilation. While most patients do not have problems driving immediately following dilation, we encourage patients to have a driver with them in case they feel uncomfortable with their vision. You should not operate dangerous machinery until the effects of dilation have worn off. We can reschedule dilation for a more convenient time upon patient request.

Not all patients can be dilated and the doctor will determine the potential for dilation during the examination before dilation is performed.

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