Whether eye dilation is necessary for every eye exam depends on the reason for your eye exam, your overall health and your risk of eye diseases.
During an eye exam, your doctor uses special eyedrops to cause eye dilation. The drops cause the black portion at the center of your eye (pupil) to widen, allowing your doctor a good view of the back of your eye. Eye dilation can help your doctor diagnose many diseases and conditions, such as:
- Diabetes
- Eye tumors
- High blood pressure
- Infectious diseases
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Vasculitis
Many diseases and conditions can be detected at their earliest stages during an eye exam. For this reason, most eye doctors recommend eye dilation as part of a routine eye exam schedule.
