Eye Health
Being proactive in maintaining your eye health is important.
Advances in medicine and new technology give us many tools in which to
screen, monitor, diagnose, and manage conditions of the eye. Our doctors
recommend a thorough, dilated eye exam every year for most patients.
Why do we dilate your eyes?
Dilation of your pupils will allow the doctor to observe
the back of your eye (the retina). The doctor can check for signs of glaucoma,
macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and many other conditions.
The retina provides a unique view of your blood vessels, which means the
doctor can also check for signs of uncontrolled hypertension. A certain
area of your retina (called the optic nerve head) opens to an optical
pathway that leads to your brain; swelling of this area can indicate a
tumor, or past history of a stroke.
Even if you do not wear glasses, you should still have
dilated examinations as indicated by your doctor. An eye exam is one of
the best ways to protect your vision because it can detect eye problems
at their earliest stage — when they're most treatable.
What to expect when your eyes are dilated
The dilating drops work by relaxing a muscle in the
eye that controls your pupil reaction. When this muscle is relaxed, your
pupil dilates. Think of your pupil like a window – the bigger it
is, the better view the doctor has.
In children, dilation of the pupil can lead to a more
accurate vision exam, because a young eye has a natural tendency to over-accommodate
during a vision test: when that muscle is relaxed, it eliminates that
possibility.
Dilation can last 2-3 hours for the average person.
Because your pupil is bigger, it allows more light in, causing you to
be sensitive. You should wear sunglasses in bright light after dilation,
until you are no longer sensitive. Most people can still drive after dilation.
Some patients may find near vision difficult.
Special Screening
For certain patients, your doctor may recommend you return for further
screening. These are tests that are not part of the routine eye examination.
Most medical insurance will cover your tests. Every year, new advances
are made in the screening process of certain conditions. New technology
is available to screen, document, monitor, and treat the health of your
eye. We start with a baseline examination. Follow up examinations can
be compared to your baseline, and if there are any changes, it can be
detected sooner rather than later. Even if you have had a particular condition
for years, new special testing can now make it easier to monitor.
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