You may think that because your vision is fine that your eyes are healthy, but the only way to be certain is to visit your eye doctor for a dilated eye exam. Both of your eyes will be thoroughly inspected during your visit for any signs of vision difficulties or eye illnesses.
The dilatation of your eyes may be an important part of your comprehensive eye exam since it allows your doctor to get a clear understanding of your eye health as well as your overall well-being. At your exam the doctor will determine if a dilated exam is necessary to adequately diagnose the condition of your eyes.
Is It Necessary to Have My Eyes Dilated During an Eye Exam?
Whether eye dilation during an exam is necessary depends on the reason for your exam, your age, and your overall health and risk of eye diseases. Eye drops used for dilations cause your pupils to widen, allowing more light in and giving your doctor a better view of the back of your eye.
Eye dilation can help your doctor diagnose common diseases and conditions in their early stages. They include:
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Macular Degeneration
- Retinal Detachment
- Glaucoma
Eye dilation can blur your vision and make your eyes more sensitive to light, which can impair your ability to drive or work for a few hours. Make an appointment with your doctor so that you will be able to recover from eye dilation before returning to work.
What Happens During the Dilated Eye Exam?
The eye dilation procedure involves the administration of specific eye drops that induce your pupils to dilate. This allows your doctor to see the back of your eye, such as the retina and optic nerve, more easily. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes for the pupils to dilate completely. The dilating eye drops may irritate your eyes.
After your pupils have been dilated, your doctor will shine bright lights into your eyes to examine different portions of the back of the eye. While the test is being performed, you will be requested to gaze up, down, left, and right to gain a complete 360-degree view.
Asheville Vision and Wellness Eye Exam
Eye exams are important for maintaining healthy vision. At Asheville Vision and Wellness, we've been conducting eye exams and providing other vision services in Asheville, NC, for years.
Our eye doctors are trained to provide comprehensive eye examinations, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and medical eye evaluations to our patients. To learn more about how having your eyes dilated can make it easier to preserve your vision in the future, visit our website.