After a dilated eye examination are you able to drive and if not how long before you can?

Question

After a dilated eye examination are you able to drive and if not how long before you can?

Answer 1

I do dialated eye exams on a daily basis. These exams do not effect your ability to drive, minus the sensativity to the sun. What happens actually is the muscles that allow your eyes to focus up close and distance are actually peralized (temporarly of course) which causes your eyes to dialate. If you are myopic (nearsightedness) then your vision up close will be blurry for a few hours. If you have blue eyes, it tends to last longer because of how light then are. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

You really should wait a while before driving, dilated eyes are much more sensitive to light than those that aren't dilated.  If you have to leave the office right after your examination, perhaps your eye doctor will give you some throw-away shades...otherwise, have somebody drop you off and pick you up.

Best to ask the doctor during the examination anyways.

Answer 3

Yes you can drive if you feel comfortable doing so. Just be extra careful as most people are normally dilated for 2 - 4 hours.  If you do not have dark enough sunglasses make sure you get the disposable ones from the doctor.  You will need them.  The light outside will be blinding - even it it is not sunny.  Dilation affects your up close vision so any type of reading will be blurry.  You may also ask for a light dose of drops instead of a normal dose.  They have different strengths of the ingredients that they use to make the drops so they should have a lighter dose.

Answer 4

I did when I had my eye dilated.  I took it easy after that, I wouldn't recommend going bowling, but it usually last about 12 hours.