Dilating eyedrops are used to dilate, or enlarge, the pupils ofyour eyes so that your eye doctor can see the inside of you eye in detail.

 

Dilating drops work by:

     - Temporarily paralyzing the muscle that makes the pupil smaller;

     - Stimulating the muscle that makes the iris widen; or

     - Preventing the pupil from adjusting for focus 

 

With your pupils dilated, your eye doctor can use special instruments to see the eye's entire lens, which focuses light onto the retina.  The retina inself also can be seen, as well as the optic nerve, which sends signals from the retina to your brain where they are interpreted as images.  

 

In addition to exams, dilating drops are used for a variety of purposes.  For some types of eye surgery, you eye doctor will need to dilate your eyes.  Sometimes, after certain types of surgery, it is important to use dilating drops to keep the pupil wide so that scar tissue won't form.  Your eyes may also be dilated to relax your lens's focusing muscles so taht your eye doctor can measure accurately for your glasses prescription.

 

Dilating drops are sometimes used in children who have amblyopia (lazy eye).  Beacuse the drops cause temporary blurry vision, they are used to blur the stronger eye, thereby forcing the child's brain to use the weaker eye. 

 

It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes for dilating drops to begin working.  People with light eye color (such as blue, green or hazel) are more sensitive and dilate faster than people with dark eye color.  With dilated pupils, you will be sensitive to light and find it difficult to focus on nearby objects.  These effects can last for up to several hours, depending on the strength of the drop used and on each individual. 

 

When you are going to have a dilated eye exam or procedure, you should bring sunglasses with you to reduce glare and light sensitivity when you leave yoru appointment.  

 

Dilating drops cause a variable amount of blurry vision for an unpredictable length of time. Your eye doctor cannot tell you how much of your vision will be affected and for exactly how long.  Because driving safely may not be possible after having your eyes dilated, you should make arrangements to have someone drive you after yoru appointment.