Is it necessary to have my eyes dilated during every eye exam?
Whether eye dilation during an exam is necessary depends on the reason for your exam, your age, your overall health and your risk of eye diseases.
The eye drops used for dilation cause your pupils to widen, allowing in more light and giving your eye doctor a better view of the back of your eye. Eye dilation helps your eye doctor diagnose common diseases and conditions, possibly at their earliest stages. These diseases and conditions include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
Eye dilation also makes your vision blurry and your eyes more sensitive to light, which can affect your ability to drive or work for a few hours. So if eye dilation is greatly inconvenient, ask your eye doctor about arranging another appointment. Alternatives to dilation are available, but they aren't as effective for allowing a careful exam of the back of the eye.
In deciding whether eye dilation is necessary for you, your eye doctor may consider:
- Your age. The risk of eye diseases increases with age. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a dilated eye exam once every 1 to 2 years if you're 65 or older and you have no other risk factors or eye disease.
- Your ethnic background. People of certain ethnic backgrounds are at increased risk of some eye diseases. Black and Hispanic people are at increased risk of glaucoma. For this reason, they are advised to have a dilated eye exam every 1 to 3 years starting at age 40 and every 1 to 2 years after age 55.
- Your eye health. Having a history of eye diseases that affect the back of the eye, such as retinal detachment, may increase your risk of future eye conditions.
- Your overall health. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, increase the risk of eye disease.
- The reason you are seeking an eye evaluation. Certain symptoms may require a dilated exam to determine the cause. Some conditions requiring follow-up exams may not need dilation at every visit unless there are new symptoms or concerns.
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Jan. 25, 2025
- Frequency of ocular examinations - 2015. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/education/clinical-statement/frequency-of-ocular-examinations. Accessed Sept. 23, 2024.
- Comprehensive adult medical eye evaluation - 2020. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/education/preferred-practice-pattern/comprehensive-adult-medical-eye-evaluation-ppp. Accessed Sept. 23, 2024
- What are dilating eyedrops? American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/drugs/dilating-eyedrops. Accessed Sept. 23, 2024.
- Get a dilated eye exam. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/get-dilated-eye-exam. Accessed Sept. 23, 2024.
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