How Long Should I Wait to Have an Eye Examination After Dilating My Eyes? And How Long Does an Eye Examination Take?

The accuracy of refraction after dilation depends on the type of dilating agent used. Typically, there are two types of dilating agents commonly used. The first is long-acting dilating agents, such as atropine sulfate ophthalmic gel. This type of medication generally requires about a week of use before refraction, resulting in more accurate results. The second type is short-acting dilating agents, such as compound tropicamide eye drops. These eye drops have a rapid onset, and the pupils will dilate within approximately half an hour of administration, allowing for a more accurate assessment of refractive status.

The duration of dilation required for refraction can vary. When using tropicamide eye drops, they are typically administered every five minutes for a total of 4 to 6 times. In this case, dilation refraction can generally take approximately one hour. However, it is important to note that after dilation, it typically takes 4 to 6 hours for a child's pupils to return to their normal size. Therefore, it is recommended that children avoid excessive eye strain during this period as vision may be blurred and they may be sensitive to light.

(1) Children under 12 years of age have strong accommodative abilities. If dilation is not performed, there may be significant errors in the refraction measurements.

(2) In certain diagnostic refractions where the fundus and refractive media are normal but vision is poor, dilation refraction may be necessary to rule out the presence of refractive errors.

(3) For patients with refractive errors between 12 and 40 years of age, dilation refraction is generally recommended for the first visit. For subsequent visits when the refractive error has not changed significantly and astigmatism is not evident, a small-pupil refraction based on the original prescription may be performed with adjustments made accordingly.