What is a dilated eye exam?
What is a dilated eye exam? A dilated eye exam is the best thing you can do for your eye health! It’s the only way to check for eye diseases early on, when they’re easier to treat — and before they cause vision loss. The exam is simple and painless. Your eye doctor will check for vision problems that make it hard to see clearly, like being nearsighted or farsighted. Then your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and check for eye diseases. Since many eye diseases have no symptoms or warning signs, you could have a problem and not know it. Even if you think your eyes are healthy, getting a dilated eye exam is the only way to know for sure. How often do I need to get a dilated eye exam? How often you need a dilated eye exam depends on your risk for eye disease. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you. Get a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years if you: Are over age 60 Are African American and over age 40 Have a family history of glaucoma If you hav...