Why do a Dilated Eye Exam (Dilation)?

A dilated eye exam is required to gain a good view of the inside of your eyes so that an assessment can be made of your overall eye health.

This involves instilling diagnostic medication in the form of eye drops so that your pupils will get bigger, and a better view of your lenses, retina, macula, optic nerve, and blood vessels can be attained.

The drops take about 15-30 minutes to kick in before your pupils open up. You will be left with blurry vision and some glare for 2-3 hours afterwards, so it is best to bring sunglasses, and arrange a ride or use public transport. This is usually conducted at a follow-up examination as it requires more time. If you'd like it during your initial examination, please let me know ahead of time so that I can ensure you have an extended appointment.

❗ 50% of Australians with Glaucoma are undiagnosed due to a lack of regular eye exams with the same optometrist - Blindness from glaucoma is preventable if detected early
 

❗ The Myopia Epidemic causes irreversible vision loss - Myopic maculopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the Asian population that cannot be corrected with glasses
 

❗ Macular Degeneration (AMD) is responsible for 50% of blindness in Australia - Symptoms are rare in the early stages and are often missed because they tend to start in one eye only. Assess your risk here at Check My Macula 

❗ All diabetics need regular dilated eye examinations (dilations) at least once every 2 years - Diabetic Eye Disease is the number one cause of preventable blindness in the working population in Australia. Find out more here.

Cataracts are mostly a result of age or UV sun damage, however, they can also be caused by trauma, medication, and certain health conditions. A dilated eye exam allows me to see your lenses more clearly to determine whether cataract is apparent, what type of cataract is present, and predict the speed of progression so that we can prepare you for the need for cataract surgery if necessary.

There are many aspects of the retina that can be assessed. Retinal blood vessels are assessed for the impact of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Bleeding and leakage of fats into the retina may be a sign of uncontrolled health conditions warranting a referral to your GP for further investigations.

Certain presentations of haemorrhaging / bleeding can be a sign of leukemia or cancer, as well as a result of vigorous activity or trauma.

Myopic (or short-sighted) individuals are at higher risk of macula disease, and peripheral retina disease too which may show as retinal thinning, increased adhesion, holes, or tears in the retina.

The macula is the central part of the eye that provides the highest resolution vision. This is the part that we use for reading, or appreciating the finer details of faces and art.

This is the main part of the eye that we assess for potential brain tumours which will cause the nerve to either swell or display paleness in colour. This is also where glaucoma takes place due to pressure within the eye which is beyond the healthy amount for the given individual therefore causing thinning of the nerve.