Digital dependency and high-stress lifestyles have caused people to take more care of their health, especially of their eyesight in recent years. A part of this process is going to routine check-ups and eye exams that can ensure your visual acuity and overall eye health. The process of eye exams can be intimidating since the eyes are one of the most important and sensitive parts of the body. Keeping these things in mind, many people may have apprehensions about eye dilation, which often take place during a thorough eye exam.
Eye dilation is a step that is a part of the entire process of an eye exam, one that entails the dilation of your pupil to allow the ophthalmologist to be able to look inside the eyes. As a diagnostic measure, eye dilation is vital to understanding your eye health apart from visual acuity. Since eyes dilate and constrict on their own in response to light, eye dilation is a process that uses artificial methods to yield equivalent results. To mitigate apprehensions about eye dilation, let us take a closer look at the process and why it is necessary.
What is Eye Dilation?
Eye dilation, as the name suggests, is the process of making the pupil of your eye dilate fully for a closer examination of eye health by the ophthalmologist. The process is simple. The doctor puts dilating drops on the patient’s eyes and waits for 20 to 30 minutes for the pupils to fully dilate. Once the patient’s eyes are completely dilated, the doctor begins the eye exam. The fundamental purpose of eye dilation is to allow more light to enter the patient’s eye, which then allows the doctor a better view into the rear of the eye. Eye dilation allows the doctor to accurately diagnose the presence of any underlying eye conditions that might not be visible without eye dilation.
Why is Eye Dilation Necessary?
Eye dilation is necessary because it is a diagnostic measure that allows the ophthalmologist a closer look into the anatomy of the eye, inaccessible to the naked eye. Since the eyes are sensitive and delicate to work with, the safest precautions must be taken to be able to see within the eye and check for any conditions.
Eye dilation may last anywhere between 4 to 24 hours on a patient, as it varies from person to person. This duration gives the doctor more time to take a thorough and precise examination of the eyes, looking for any diseases and hopefully diagnosing them at an early and treatable stage. In most cases, the doctor might advise a dilated eye exam if:
- If you are in a pre-diabetic or a diabetic state.
- If you are facing any problems with eyesight.
- If you have a family history of eye diseases or have existing eye problems that need an inspection for any aggravation/treatment process.
What You Need to Know: Eye Dilation
Since it is performed at the hands of a trusted professional, you can rest assured that this eye dilation is simply a part of a larger process. This can keep your eye health in check. Once your eyes are completely dilated, the ophthalmologist will perform the following tests:
- Pupil Response: Checks pupil reaction when exposed to a flashlight.
- Eye Muscle Function: Checks eye movement when asked to follow a moving object in front of the eye, keeping the head still.
- Visual Acuity: Checks ability to see letters placed at a close distance.
- Tonometry: Checks eye pressure when exposed to a direct puff of air into the eye.
- Visual Field: Checks peripheral vision with the help of flashing lights on either side of the patient’s face.
Eye dilation is a necessary step that aids diagnosis. Therefore, it helps in maintaining your eye health overall. It is important to note that some minor effects of eye dilation may be blurry vision, difficulty in focussing on objects up close, and light sensitivity. These effects subside after the dilation wears off and the eyes return to normal sensitivity. To get an accurate evaluation of your eye health, visit the nearby Titan Eyeplus store.