Eye Drops
Our optometrist is licensed to use certain eye drops during eye examinations. These drops have the effect of either dilating the pupils (mydriatics) paralysing the focusing muscles of the eye (cycloplegics) or deadening the sensation of the front of the eye (anaesthetics).
Pupil dilation
As part of your comprehensive eye examination, your optometrist may need to put drops into your eyes to enlarge your pupils. These drops, called “mydriatics”, are sometimes necessary to allow the optometrist to get a better view of the internal structures of your eye, allowing a more thorough health evaluation.
The need for these drops is dependent on the reason for your examination, your age, your overall health and your risk of eye and some general diseases.
Pupil dilation may assist your optometrist in diagnosing common diseases and conditions, possibly at their earliest stages. They include:
Diabetes- High blood pressure
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
After being instilled, the mydriatic drops usually take about 20 minutes to take effect. Pupil dilation tends to last longer with lighter coloured eyes but in all people these drops usually wear off within 2-6 hours. During this time, vision may be blurry and eyes are always more sensitive to bright lights until the drops wear off so sunglasses should be worn and driving and operating machinery should be avoided.
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Paralysing focus
Sometimes when examining the eyes of young people, it is necessary to temporarily prevent them using the focussing mechanism within the eyes. These eye drops, called “cycloplegics” will assist your optometrist to assess the need for spectacles or other treatment as well as to assist in finalising any prescription or required treatment.
Cycloplegia tends to last longer with lighter coloured eyes but in all children these drops usually wear off by the time the child wakes the following morning. During this time, vision will be blurry and eyes are always more sensitive to bright lights until the drops wear off. A child will often be drowsy after the examination and should avoid sport and excessive reading or homework for the rest of the day. Occasionally a child’s eyes may stay dilated for longer than 24 hours, especially in lighter (blue, green or hazel) eyes. tend to be more sensitive and dilate faster than people with dark eye colour (brown or black).
All mydriatics and cycloplegics will sting for a few seconds after they are put into the eyes. Children should not be told that the drops don’t hurt but should be reassured that the stinging won’t last for very long.
You should bring sunglasses with you to your eye exam, to minimize glare and light sensitivity on the way home. Because driving safely may not be possible after having your eyes dilated, it is best to make arrangements for someone to drive you after your appointment.
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Anaesthesia
If there is an injury or foreign object in the eye, your optometrist may have to instil eye drops to reduce pain to allow examination of the front of the eye for damage or to remove the foreign body. These drops (“anaesthetic”) may also used in some examination techniques and occasionally in the fitting of some rigid contact lenses.
It is important to inform the optometrist if you are have a history of allergy to anaesthetics.
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If you have any questions before or after an eye examination or procedure that involves the use of eye drops, please be sure to speak with your optometrist.
