Did you know that the eye is the only organ in our body that you can see into? Crazy, right?! A dilated eye means a better look at the inside of your eyes and a better look at your overall body health.
Dilated Eye Exam…what is it?
The dark circle in the center of your eye is the opening into your eye, the pupil. When your pupil isn’t dilated it makes it very difficult for your eye doctor to see all the way to the back of your eye. On the other hand, when your pupil is dilated, and wide-open, it makes it possible for your doctor to perform a comprehensive dilated eye exam. During a dilated exam, your doctor will be looking at your macula, retina, and optic nerve.
During a dilated eye exam the doctor will administer eye drops that contain medication to enlarge the pupil. Having a large pupil will allow your doctor to be able to see signs of eye conditions and be able to detect any issues, including prediabetes, hypertension among other conditions. Early detection is key to treating many eye conditions.
What Can your Doctor Diagnose during a Comprehensive Dilated Exam?
During a dilated eye exam the doctor will take a close examination of the optic nerve, macula, and retina. The doctor will be able to diagnose glaucoma and other eye diseases. The doctor will also examine the retina and look for diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD. Conditions like these would be extremely difficult to diagnose without having a dilated pupil. This is why Dr. Smith recommends a comprehensive eye exam every year.
Other conditions that your eye doctor could find during a dilated eye exam include retinal detachments or tears and ocular tumors. A dilated eye exam also allows the doctor to find health conditions that affect the entire body such as, diabetes and high blood pressure.
We Care About Your Health
During a dilated eye exam your eye doctor will be able to detect many eye conditions and warning signs. The only way to tell if something is wrong is to take a look. Even if your eyes are healthy, getting a comprehensive yearly eye exam is important. Be sure to follow your eye doctor’s recommendation on how often to get a dilated eye exam…it could save your vision!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.