aao.org/eye-health/drugs/what-to-expect-eyes-are-dilated What to expect when your eyes are dilated. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Dilating drops used as treatment have the same effects as drops used during exams. These include eye inflammation and amblyopia, also called a lazy eye, which is a condition where one eye doesn’t properly connect with the brain. Dilation as a treatmentĭilating drops can also be used to treat certain eye conditions. For example, high blood pressure could damage the blood vessels in your retina, which can be seen only when your eye is dilated. This is because those conditions can lead to changes in the eye. It also helps diagnose some chronic conditions that affect more than your eye, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. They’ll look at the retina, optic nerve, blood vessels, and other parts of your eye that can’t otherwise be seen.ĭilation helps your eye doctor diagnose many eye conditions, including The widened pupil allows your doctor to use a magnifying lens to look inside your eye and at the back of your eye. Dilating drops widen the pupil (the black part of your eye) so that it doesn’t get smaller when your doctor shines a light at it.

Dilation allows an eye doctor to look inside your eyes.

Dilated eyes