Why is Eye Dilation Needed at an Eye Exam?

Regular eye exams are crucial to both your vision and overall health. Properly treating vision problems can improve your quality of life in a variety of ways. Many people understand and acknowledge the importance of eye exams; however, they are less familiar with the importance of eye dilation.

What is eye dilation?

Eye dilation is a simple, painless procedure where your eye doctor uses special drops to temporarily widen your pupil. Dilating your pupils allows for your eye doctor to get a clear and unobstructed view of the back of your eye, including the retina and optic nerve.

Why is eye dilation needed?

There are two main reasons why eye dilation is needed

1) It widens the pupils and makes it easier for your eye doctor to detect serious eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy in their earliest stages.  

2) Eye dilation allows your eye doctor to clearly see all the way into the back of your eye, helping him or her to detect any abnormalities and treat or prevent future eye problems.

During eye exams, doctors keep several factors in mind when deciding whether or not their patients need eye dilation, including previous eye exam history, age, and health.

Previous eye exam history

If your previous eye exams with eye dilation have not yielded any unusual findings, you may not need to have your eyes dilated during your next examination. However, your first eye exam will almost certainly include eye dilation to act as a baseline for your overall eye health.

Patient age

Age affects the decision to dilate your eyes as well. Patients over 40 start to experience significant changes in their vision, making eye dilation more necessary.

Patient health

Both your eye health and your overall health contribute to whether or not you need eye dilation. If you have experienced eye diseases like retinal detachment, you are at a higher risk for future eye problems, so your doctor will likely want to dilate your eyes as a precautionary measure. Additionally, diseases like diabetes are known to increase one’s risk for eye diseases.

There are six health issues that eye doctors can discover from eye dilation:

1) Eye dilation can help detect glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that can lead to vision loss and eventually blindness by affecting the optic nerve. In its early stages, glaucoma can only be detected by eye dilation. When your eyes are dilated during an eye exam, your eye doctor will be able to detect changes to the shape and color of the optic nerve, which would be indicative of glaucoma.

2) Eye dilation can identify age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration is characterized by yellow deposits or clumps of pigment beneath the retina. AMD is a common cause for vision loss and, like glaucoma, its earliest stages do not exhibit any symptoms.

3) Identify signs of hypertension during an eye exam

Eye dilation can detect more than just diseases in the eye. For example, eye dilation can identify signs of high blood pressure. Hypertension puts strain on all the blood vessels in the body, including those in the eyes. Even if you are not yet showing other symptoms of hypertension, by dilating your eyes, your eye care professional will be able to see bleeding from the blood vessels in the eye, as well as areas of swelling that might be contributing to blurred vision.

4) Eye dilation can help find eye tumors

Eye tumors, which can include melanoma of the eye, can be detected in their early stages with eye dilation. While some eye tumors are benign, if ignored, they can eventually become more serious. As with many other illnesses, if caught early, your eye doctor can continue to observe eye tumors to see whether or not they are growing and treat them accordingly.

5) Detecting diabetes

Diabetes often causes damage to the nerves that allow the pupil to dilate and constrict. Eye dilation will help your doctor determine whether nerve damage indicative of diabetes is present. Regular eye dilation can also help prevent and treat diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in the United States.

6) Cataract detection and evaluation

Cataracts develop in the lens of the eye and present themselves as opaque clumps of tissue, leading to a variety of vision problems. Eye doctors can catch cataracts early with eye dilation, allowing them to treat the cataracts earlier and prevent serious vision problems or blindness in the future.

If you are curious why eye dilation is part of your eye exam, keep the facts above in mind when you make your next appointment with your eye doctor. At VSP® Individual Vision Plans, we value your vision health and want to help you live the healthiest, most fulfilling life possible. We encourage you to find an eye doctor near you and schedule your eye appointment today or, if you don’t have a VSP vision plan, learn more about our vision insurance plans.

Information received through VSP Individual Vision Plans’ social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

 

Your vision. Your way.

Not covered for vision? Get an individual plan, customized for you – including where you want to use it: at the doctor, in a retail location, or even online.

VSP Benefits & Savings

Build Your Plan

Where is VSP Insurance Accepted?

Vision Insurance >

Where is VSP Insurance Accepted?

Did you know an eye exam can help detect health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes and more? Getting your annual eye exam is a priority, b...

Choosing A Vision Insurance Plan for You and Your Family

Vision Insurance >

Choosing A Vision Insurance Plan for You and Your Family

Caring for your family’s well-being is a top priority and it’s only natural to want the best for them and their vision. Though sometimes...

6 Common Eyeglass Issues and How to Solve Them

Glasses >

6 Common Eyeglass Issues and How to Solve Them

Many people with vision impairments rely on traditional glasses to keep their vision in focus while doing daily activities. While glasses offer a fu...