Eye dilation question
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diecidecimi
Member
Old post....
I'm ophthalmologist, and of course I dilate pupils of thousands patients....
The usual drug we use is not atropine, but tropicamide. Its effect is faster and it faints after a couple of hours.
These eyedrops happily have no side effects, apart the blurred vision, the hypersensitivity to the light (of course, given the huge amount of light received by the retina with dilated pupils), and the risk of increased ocular pressure in rare cases - easily recognized BEFORE the examination thanks the iridocorneal angle.
If, for some reasons, your ophthalmologist chooses another medication, as cyclopentholate, it is likely to have nausea, vertigo, redness of your face, hallucinations and sleepiness.
I'm ophthalmologist, and of course I dilate pupils of thousands patients....
The usual drug we use is not atropine, but tropicamide. Its effect is faster and it faints after a couple of hours.
These eyedrops happily have no side effects, apart the blurred vision, the hypersensitivity to the light (of course, given the huge amount of light received by the retina with dilated pupils), and the risk of increased ocular pressure in rare cases - easily recognized BEFORE the examination thanks the iridocorneal angle.
If, for some reasons, your ophthalmologist chooses another medication, as cyclopentholate, it is likely to have nausea, vertigo, redness of your face, hallucinations and sleepiness.
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Wife has just finished having her eyes done for cataract surgery. For some reason the day after both they dilated her eyes and she is pretty comatose... But it may because she had to get up at 0500 to go to the office to be checked. She was scared stiff before the first eye was done...bit better for the 2nd...but she said that she can't believe how much her vision was impaired. She's been napping since we got home at 1400. Told me her dark glasses weren't dark nuff coming home...but it was a severe clear day in Big Sky Country. Best kind of day for flying...wish I still had a plane
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Just had my eyes examined last month. No issues at all and am glad. MD is a nice looking lady Iv’e known for years and all her staff are nice looking too. Medicare is getting messed up as the refused to pay for the most important test they used to cover????.
To quote Coover Bennett (Justified) “Girl, I’m a ******* professional!”
Inusuit
Member
My doc always dilates on the day with the most glaring summer sun.
The tech at the VA eye clinic, have known him for years, advised to use an eye cup with distilled water to rinse the chemical out a bit sooner.
Loved flying but boating won.
Loved flying but boating won.
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I have a eye doc appointment for next week. I will get another dilation . He does a very good exam and as I'm a diabetic that helps.
He used to be very strict about insisting you have a driver to get you home after the exam. One time a last minute occurrence I lost my copilot. He made me sign a couple papers about me driving home. (CYA)
Since then he consolidated along with a few other eye docs and the driver issue has not been talked about. As a retired welder
and well used to "bright lights" I just put on my script sun glasses and go home. His new office and the time of the day puts the sun at my back.
He used to be very strict about insisting you have a driver to get you home after the exam. One time a last minute occurrence I lost my copilot. He made me sign a couple papers about me driving home. (CYA)
Since then he consolidated along with a few other eye docs and the driver issue has not been talked about. As a retired welder
and well used to "bright lights" I just put on my script sun glasses and go home. His new office and the time of the day puts the sun at my back.
johnjohn
Member
It doesn't bother my wife too much,but affects me something awful. Muc sensitivity to light and get drowsy.
BKLooney
Member
Always give me a splitting headache...
Delta Expatriate
Member
I usually had my eyes dilated at my annual eye exam - and always had to linger in the waiting room for 2 - 3 hours afterwards before driving. I can't recall it making me sleepy or lethargic though.
However, both last year and this year my opthamologist's clinic has used a machine that takes a picture of the eye - with a temporary, somewhat blinding flash. By the time the exam is actually conducted a few minutes later, that partial blindness is gone. When the exam is over, I head to my truck and drive home. I assume this technology is fairly new. If someone knows the name for it, let me know.
However, both last year and this year my opthamologist's clinic has used a machine that takes a picture of the eye - with a temporary, somewhat blinding flash. By the time the exam is actually conducted a few minutes later, that partial blindness is gone. When the exam is over, I head to my truck and drive home. I assume this technology is fairly new. If someone knows the name for it, let me know.
Don't know the name, but my optometrist, also, has been using this device for a few years. I have had no problem at all with the flash, even when he occasionally has had to do it twice on one eye.
Old Arkansawyer
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I now know why I'm lethargic, but I didn't know those drops lasted a
whole year.
whole year.
No eyedrops after dilation...
I have never heard of using Equate eye drops for red eyes (or any eye drops for that matter) after getting eyes dilated...if you just wait the eyes will clear up on their own...I believe if you had NOT used Equate eye drops you WOULD have had clear vision in 4 hours anyway just by waiting for the dilating agent to dissipate...maybe the ophthalmologist (diecidecimi in post #22) can weigh in on this one...
I have never heard of using Equate eye drops for red eyes (or any eye drops for that matter) after getting eyes dilated...if you just wait the eyes will clear up on their own...I believe if you had NOT used Equate eye drops you WOULD have had clear vision in 4 hours anyway just by waiting for the dilating agent to dissipate...maybe the ophthalmologist (diecidecimi in post #22) can weigh in on this one...
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Address issue in post #2
You being an ophthalmologist can you address the idea of using an eye drop to "clear up" your vision after getting your eyes dilated...I have never heard of this...your vision after dilation usually becomes clearer after 4 hours or so on it's own...
You being an ophthalmologist can you address the idea of using an eye drop to "clear up" your vision after getting your eyes dilated...I have never heard of this...your vision after dilation usually becomes clearer after 4 hours or so on it's own...
Not new. My doc has been doing that for at least the 28 years I've been going to him. The old machine used a Polaroid. The newer one is, of course, digital. Takes the place of dilation in terms of looking at the retina. It's unpleasant, but the effects are short lived. That and the puff of air to check internal pressure are the only unpleasant part of the visit. Well, and the fact that he keeps telling me the cataracts are getting closer to requiring surgery.
Dodging the light...
...makes my eyes tired and if my eyes get tired, the rest of me gets tired, too. Last time it seemed to take longer to get back to normal, so I was a little worn out. I can't say the drops make me sleepy, but I believe the stuff is Belladonna, so it might have some adverse effects.
...makes my eyes tired and if my eyes get tired, the rest of me gets tired, too. Last time it seemed to take longer to get back to normal, so I was a little worn out. I can't say the drops make me sleepy, but I believe the stuff is Belladonna, so it might have some adverse effects.
diecidecimi
Member
You're right.
These eyedrops are Glycerin 0.25%, Naphazoline HCl 0.012%, a lubricant and a derivative of adrenaline. They have not relief on pupil dilation, at the contrary making it even worse. The only relief you can feel is the lubricant activity and the freshness from capillary constriction.
It exists, a drug that can convert the simil-atropine effect..... but it is not recommended : only under medical control.
Dont visit the doc wearing a yellow shirt on a sunny day.
