Pupil dilation is done to increase the size of the pupils, letting in more light and allowing the doctor to completely examine the optic nerve and retina at the back of your eye. Many patients dread having their pupils dilated during their annual comprehensive eye exams, but this part of the exam is critical to identifying, preventing, and treating eye conditions that can cause vision loss.

Detecting Diseases with Dilation

The eye is the only place in the human body where a doctor can see a part of the central nervous system — the optic nerve. This is an essential part of a comprehensive eye exam.

Dilation helps your eye doctor diagnose glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, vitreous and retinal detachments as well as diabetic retinopathy and retinal hemorrhages. It can even help in detecting tumors inside the eye.

How Does Dilation Work?

Dilating the pupil requires the installation of eye drops. These eye drops take 15-30 minutes to take effect and approximately 4-6 hours to wear off.

During the time of dilation, the patient’s vision will be blurry, and their eyes will be light sensitive from the increased amount of light entering the eyes. Be sure to bring a good pair of sunglasses to your exam.

Schedule an Eye Exam Today

As one of Texas’ most established, full-service eye care providers, Berkeley Eye Center’s goal is to provide each and every patient with superior eye care and customer service. Our tradition of excellence began in Houston 60 years ago when Ralph Berkeley, M.D., opened his first Ophthalmology practice. Today, Berkeley Eye Center serves patients from more than 22 eye center locations in and around Houston, as well as laser centers in Greenway Plaza, The Woodlands, Katy, Kingwood, Katy Freeway, and Corpus Christi.