I've heard of dilation in eye exams... does it hurt?

Question

I have to have an eye exam but I have allergies in the summer and my eyes itch so drops would just make it worse....Do I have to have dilation?

Answer 1

It doesn't hurt, but for about 30 seconds my eyes feel like they're bulging out of my head.  Doesn't hurt at all, just feels really strange.  And you'll be sensitive to light so be sure to bring sun glasses.

Answer 2

Dilation are just eye drops to make the pupils bigger so the exam can be done.  You won't be able to drive for a few hours so tske someone with you to the doctor.  No pain no discomfort.

Answer 3

No pain, i've had my eyes dialated every year, for 5 years!

If you are nervous about the drops going directly in, you may request that they put them on the inside corners of your eye, they only feel cold.

Answer 4

almost always they dilate your eyes during an eye exam, not it does not hurt, it is just really weird seeing for a little while, and your pupils get huge, it looks weird and you see weird but there is NO pain, my 11 year old just had her eyes dilated.

thanks

Answer 5

no not at all you just can't drive for a little while.

Answer 6

It's no big deal.  The drops sting a tiny bit when they go in and that's all.  Afterwards you won't be able to look at anything bright, so you NEED sunglasses afterwards.  They make your reading vision a little blurry so if there is any reading for school that needs to be done than finish it before dilation.

It also tends to make me pretty tired for some reason.

Answer 7

Having your eyes dilated does not hurt and is the only way the Optometrist can see inside your eye to see if things are going on that could be dangerous. You can't focus on things up close for a few hours and the bright light of the sun is a little uncomfortable, but wearing sunglasses helps.

There are prescription drops or over the counter drops your doctor can recommend for allergies. Good luck.

Answer 8

Depends on what they use.  I get a glaucoma check every six months and sometimes the drops hurt, but maybe that's the anethesthetic.  They put a blue light right on your eye.  With you the dilation drops just feel wet then they stick you in a room full of magazines you can't read anyway because your eyes can't focus.

Also, be sure to bring a pair of sunglasses or two, that summer sun is murder on dilated eyes.  Plus you will look stoned, so it's a good thing you don't drive yet.  

Last time my eyes were dilated, they put too much in one eye and not enough in the other.  One eye was dilated more than another, which looked really funny.  

The only side effect is you won't be able to look at a CRT computer monitor because it will flicker.  And your eyes won't be able to focus and compensate for a few hours.