Dialated Eye Exam?

Thradia · 11-09-2005, 09:12 PM

Has anyone has this done and can explain what happens, how long it takes, etc?

Now that I am diagnosed as diabetic, I have to go once a year and this is my first trip. I've only been to an eye doctor once in my life, and I was young. I've never had problems with my eyes. Still don't really. I've had the occasional blurriness in the past couple of months, but that's it. My doctor just wants to start the routine.

I know basically they put drops in your eyes and do an exam, but what does that involve ???

intensity_too · 11-09-2005, 10:22 PM

It's not painful or anything. They put special eye drops in that make your pupils dialate big so the doctor can take a good look at your retina's to make sure you have no bleeding or excessive blood vessel growth . . . both are more common when you are diabetic.

It take about 10 minutes for the drops to dialate your pupils and then the doctor uses a lighted instrument to look at the backs of your eyes. The light is very bright and annoying.

Make sure to take sunglasses with you!!!! Your pupils will remain dialated for several hours and this can make your eyes very sensitive to even normal light conditions.

The whole thing takes about 20 minutes.

Salty · 11-09-2005, 10:27 PM

I have one done every year ...I wear glasses but they also test for retinal damage from diabetes from the dilation exam. Dilation, whcih is just a few drops of eye drops in each eye, then they make you wait for about 15 minutes and look into your eyes. DIlation allows the dr to see the retina more clearer and magnify the eye to him. Your pupils will be huge compare to the small dots they are normally. It will go away after a few hours. They will give you some ugly shades to wear because you will be sensitive to light afterwards. Some it doesnt affect them at all. Most it does. It doesnt hurt its just uncomfortable because it is different from your normal. They do the dilation exam after they do a normal eye screening or reading off the letter, etc. Its the last thing they do and they send you home. I would recommend that either someone else drives or you wear some really strong sunglasses to block out rays. Your head may feel a little heavy like a headache. My eyes always feel really heavy after a screening. Its for your own good, early detection can help save your eyes if forbid you were to ever go blind from diabetes.

Pretty~in~Pink · 11-09-2005, 11:30 PM

It's no biggie. My Dh has to have one done every yr. because he's a diabetic. He goes by himself & can drive home. It doesn't take that much longer. They just need to keep check on your eyes because Diabetes can greatly affect your eyes.

11-10-2005, 12:41 AM

I had this done today! Nothing to it! It didn't take long at all, you just have to wait for the drops to work. They don't recommend driving afterwards as your eyes can go a bit foggy!

barneyb · 11-10-2005, 03:10 AM

Recently had this done myself, since I'm seeing black spots all the time. It didn't hurt to have the exam done, but one of my eyes dialated more than the other, which gave me a nasty headache and made it really hard to see. I was just kind of off balance. Fortunately, my mom had gone along to help me pick new glasses, so she could drive. It really is no big deal, and I'm very squeamish about anything related to eyes. Good luck.

Thradia · 11-10-2005, 03:43 AM

Thanks everyone.

I'm one of those people who have a hard time getting eye drops in because things in my eyes freak me out! LOL

Thank you for the reassurance...I'm not so freaked out now that I know what it's all about

11-10-2005, 10:24 AM

It will be over before you know it!

CysterJane · 11-15-2005, 07:35 PM

No pain or discomfort whatsoever. But I would suggest having someone drive you there and back, just in case you are like me. I'm never able to drive after. It really wacks me out, but my eyes are very sensitive to light anyway.