Why is A Dilated Eye Exam Necessary?
A dilated eye exam is the only way to rule out most eye pathology. Many internal eye problems are not necessarily going to affect your vision, so getting a complete and adequate view of the internal eye structures is necessary to detect occult threats to your eye health or vision.
A dilated eye exam is simple and painless. Your eye doctor will first check for vision problems that make it hard to see clearly, like being nearsighted or farsighted. Eye drops will be necessary to dilate your pupils in order for an external and internal exam, in an effort to make sure there are no eye health conditions.
Since many eye diseases have no symptoms or warning signs, you could have a problem and not know it. Even if you think your eyes are healthy, getting a dilated eye exam is the only way to know for sure.
How often do I need to get a dilated eye exam?
How often you need a dilated eye exam depends on your risk for eye disease. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.
If you have a history of eye disease, are at high risk for eye disease, or have symptoms that suggest you may have an eye health issue, you should have a dilated eye exam.
Some conditions that definitely require pupil dilation are:
New patient to our practice
Age 40 or older
Acute symptoms
Certain systemic medical conditions that can affect the eye or vision
Have a family history of eye disease
Diabetes or Hypertension
What happens during a dilated eye exam?
The exam includes:
A visual acuity test to check how clearly you see. You will be tested to see what you can read at distance and near.
A visual field test to check your peripheral (side) vision. You will have a simple peripheral vision test to see how well you can see objects off to the sides of your vision without moving your eyes.
An eye muscle function test to check for problems with the eye muscle function. Your doctor will move an object around and ask you to follow it with your eyes.
A pupil response test to check how your pupils react to light stimuli.
A tonometry test to measure the pressure in your eyes. Your doctor will use a device that quickly and easily measures the intraocular pressure. Don’t worry — it does not hurt.
Dilation to check for problems with the inner parts of your eye. Your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil. This helps the doctor clearly inspect all structures inside your eye.
Depending on your needs, your doctor may include other tests too. Ask your doctor if you have questions.
How does dilation work?
Dilating your pupil lets more light into your eye — just like opening a door lets light into a dark room. Dilation helps your eye doctor check for many common eye problems, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
What happens after a dilated eye exam?
For a few hours after a dilated eye exam, your vision may be blurry and you may be sensitive to light. Ask a friend or family member to drive you home from your appointment.