Mydriatic Eye Drops: An Information Guide

Do you suspect you have eye problems? Still need routine eye exams? If so, we recommend scheduling an eye exam with our Vaughan optometrist. Most people usually wait for eye problems to escalate before getting an eye exam. But in the long run, making the problem worse can do serious damage.

Mydriasis is necessary in order for our Vaughan optometrists to perform the comprehensive eye exam you need. Mydriatic Eye Drops in Vaughan, Ontario are an excellent tool to help our optometrists fix their eyes and diagnose a variety of eye problems.

The Basics of Dilating Eye Drops

The dark circle in the center of the colored area of ​​the eye is called the pupil. It is the opening of the pupil that allows light to enter the eye. Mydriatic eye drops (also called mydriatic eye drops) are designed to make your pupils larger.

There are two types of dilating eye drops:

• One type contracts the muscles of the iris, which causes your pupils to enlarge or dilate.
• The other type is designed to keep the muscles of your pupils from getting smaller. Also, they relax the eyes so they can’t focus.

Don’t worry all these pupil changes are temporary and won’t last long. These two types of dilating eye drops are often used together, either as separate drops, as a spray, or as a single combination.

Why do you need dilating eye drops?

Mydriasis is essential during an eye exam. This allows our optometrist to closely examine the part of the eye behind the iris (inside the eye).

When our optometrist can see the structures inside the eye, it makes it easier to diagnose and examine abnormalities that may indicate:

• Retinal detachment. A condition in which the retina is detached from the blood vessels to which it is attached.
• hypertension. If your blood pressure is untreated, blood vessels in the retina may be damaged.
• Macular degeneration. This is when the macular element of the retina is damaged. It is responsible for your central and detailed vision. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss.
• diabetes. If you have diabetes, there is a high chance of developing diabetic retinopathy.
• glaucoma. In this condition, increased intraocular pressure can damage the eye.

Since your pupils naturally shrink in response to light, eye drops counteract this effect, giving our optometrists the opportunity and opportunity to gaze into the eye. This will also allow our optometrists to more accurately check if your child needs glasses.

Likewise, mydriatic drops can be used to treat and manage different eye problems such as inflammation, amblyopia, and progressive high myopia (progressive myopia).

Does everyone need mydriatic eye drops?

During your visit, our optometrist must consider the following before using mydriatic eye drops:

• your overall health. If you have diabetes or other types of medical conditions, you increase your chances of developing eye disease. An annual dilated eye exam is recommended for all people with diabetes.
• your age. As you get older, you are more prone to eye problems. Annual eye exams are recommended for those over the age of 65.
• Your eyes are healthy. If you have a history of eye problems, such as retinal detachment, expanding eye drops are important to monitor for any changes.

How long does the effect last?

When the eyes are examined with mydriatic eye drops, the effects may last for 4 to 24 hours. However, this depends on the type and strength of the droplet and the individual. If you have light-colored eyes, the effect will last longer than with brown eyes.

If your child is being tested, they will need much stronger drops than adults for the diagnosis to be accurate.

If some eye conditions are treated with mydriatic eye drops, the effects may last longer, even up to two weeks.

After using these mydriatic eye drops, you may experience short-term side effects such as blurred vision, photosensitivity, and difficulty focusing at close range. You can experience side effects for up to 6 hours.

Swelling drops in Vaughan, Ontario make diagnosis more accurate. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Allyson Tang, Optometrist.