As a part of your comprehensive examination, you may be dilated to assess your visual health. When you are dilated, you will notice that you are sensitive to sunlight. Please take advantage of the disposable sunglasses that are provided to you. If you are uncomfortable driving home, please wait until the dilation subsides or obtain an alternative method of transportation. You will also find that you will have difficulty focusing up close to read until the dilation effects wear off. You may find comfort to know that if you are nearsighted, you can remove your eyeglasses to see up close.
If you experience any of the symptoms listed below, call our office immediately. If you are unable to contact us, have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room and tell the physician that you have had your eyes dilated. If you would need to contact one of our doctors after buisness hours concerning a dilation reaction, please dial (614) 898-9989, select option 9 for the emergency mailbox, and leave a message. Our on call doctor will contact you.
Symptoms that Indicate an Allergic Reaction to Dilation Drops:
- Eye Pain
- Redness
- Blurred Vision with corrective lenses after 6-8 hours of dilation
- Severe gastrointestinal upset (abdominal cramping)
You have a right to participate in your health care decisions. We have an obligation to make sure you fully understand the reasons for the procedure recommended and the potential consequences of refusing or postponing these tests.
Dilation of the pupil allows for a more thorough examination of the retina than can be done through an un-dilated pupil. There are areas of the retina that cannot be seen without dilation. Many eye health conditions can occur in both younger and older populations and may not have any associated symptoms. It is not possible to view a structure in three-dimensional depth without dilation. This three-dimensional view is important for detecting retinal holes, retinal detachments, or tumors.
A complete view of the retina is also important when looking for signs of systemic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes. There is no additional fee for pupil dilation as apart of your annual comprehensive examination. If you elect to forego this procedure, you agree that you will not hold the doctors of Professional VisionCare responsible for any visual or health problems not detected.