Can having your eyes dilated cause permanent damage?

Your vision will be blurred and more sensitive to light from the dilating eye drops, so driving is one of the things you should avoid. Besides putting other drivers and yourself at risk, you can also risk causing permanent damage to your retinas from UV exposure.

What happens if your eyes are dilated too long?

Eye dilation can sometimes result in a temporary condition called cycloplegia. Cycloplegia is paralysis of the eye muscle that allows a person to focus. For most people, cycloplegia occurs only while the eye dilation drops are taking effect. In rare cases, eye dilation may cause cycloplegia to last for several days.

Can dilated eyes be reversed?

Currently there is nothing available for reversal of dilation. People who get dilated will still need to wear their sunglasses and to put off reading for a couple of hours until the effects of the dilation drops wear off.

How long does dilation of the eyes last?

Dilating eye drops used for examination of the eyes usually last anywhere from 4 to 24 hours. This depends on the strength and type of the drop, and on the individual patient. Dilation can last longer in people with lighter colored eyes, and in some cases, may last longer than 24 hours.

How long should eye dilation last?

How long does it take for my eyes to go back to normal after being dilated?

Everyone’s eyes react differently to the dilation drops. It usually takes 15 to 30 minutes for your pupils to open completely. Most people are back to normal within about 4 to 6 hours. But for you, the effects could wear off more quickly, or they could last much longer.

Do blue eyes stay dilated longer?

Pupil dilation tends to last longer in people with lighter colored eyes since brown pigment in the iris is essentially the only eye pigment, blue eyes lack significant color and gain their blue shade from light reflecting in the iris.

How long do dilated eyes take to return to normal?

Can you drive with one eye dilated?

When driving, it is important to be fully alert, and ready for anything. Following pupil dilation, it is possible that glare could simply be too obstructive. Therefore, we recommend that all patients who have their pupils dilated bring a trusted friend or family member to drive them home from their appointment.

Are dilated pupils big or small?

Dilated pupils are pupils that are larger than normal. They are sometimes called dilated eyes. The size of your pupils is controlled by tiny muscles in the colored part of your eye (iris) and the amount of light reaching your eyes.