eye docs do not dilate eyes anymore?

[vash]

I just visited my eye doc. I go about every 2 years. brought sunglasses for the bright ride home. nope. didnt happens. she looked deep into my eyes, very unromantically...deep!

they dont do the drops anymore? everything was so computerized.

now off to Warbly Parker for some style!! my far distance can still pass the DMV test, but she offered me a script for some sunglasses for commuting. I'll try some.. but most of my stuff is computer, reading , etc.

[ted]

Perhaps not for routine exams?
I see the eye doc ever 5 weeks and they do dilate my eyes with drops to check wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
They treat it with shots in the eye.

[masraum]

Some still do dilate. I think it depends upon what they are looking at.

At the place that I go, they give you a choice. They have a machine that can take pictures or they can dilate. They give you a choice. My choice was the machine. I was told that while the machine was very good, it wasn't quite as good as being dilated (IIRC, it's been 4-5 years).

[Sawyer911]

I go every three months (last 30 years) every second visit I get dialated, photo image and any new tech they can use. Last visit dilated was in March, I do get a heavier dilated drop. Had one cataract done and needed to use iris hooks. Do not look up iris hooks if you want to sleep tonight.

Sawyer

[GH85Carrera]

Are you going to an optometrist or an ophthalmologists? BIG difference as one is a real certified eye doctor and the other is not much more than a glasses prescription source.

My ophthalmologists always dilates my eyes, and uses a very bright light and magnification to checks out my cornea, and my retinas. And is in not a quick look, he studies them carefully. I have a slight cataract on my left eye. When I do get that fixed it will be that doctor to fix me.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I have not gotten dilated in some time. I got every year due to type 1 diabetes. They have some new tech that takes some amazing images.

[recycled sixtie]

Once in a while my eye doc dilates my eyes. It is not very comfortable I have glaucoma in both eyes so I think it is justified. They still let me drive home after dilation.

My friend in the UK I went to school with has both immacular degeneration and glaucoma. Both 78 and he is still driving too.

[Ronbo]

I go to a retina specialist every three months and my eyes always get dilated.

[oldE]

Yep. Dilation, digital scan, then she backs that up with a long look in each eye. Every two years, unless I have a problem in between times.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by masraum

Some still do dilate.
...

[A930Rocket]

When I go to see the eye doctor, I’m given a choice between the drops and the digital machine. They charge $25 to use the machine. I’ll get the machine, so I can drive home or back to work.

[gacook]

They have some new digital imaging thing they do instead of the dilation at my eye doc. It's pretty cool and I think it costs me an extra 20 bucks. They look at the various veins and can compare/contrast to the last picture to see if there's any degradation or other cause for concern.

[rfuerst911sc]

My wife's eye doctor specialist still dialates her eyes , I think mainly to monitor cataracts . Her regular eye doctor does not .

[pmax]

Originally Posted by gacook

They have some new digital imaging thing they do instead of the dilation at my eye doc. It's pretty cool and I think it costs me an extra 20 bucks. They look at the various veins and can compare/contrast to the last picture to see if there's any degradation or other cause for concern.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Are you going to an optometrist or an ophthalmologists? BIG difference as one is a real certified eye doctor and the other is not much more than a glasses prescription source.

My ophthalmologists always dilates my eyes, and uses a very bright light and magnification to checks out my cornea, and my retinas. And is in not a quick look, he studies them carefully. I have a slight cataract on my left eye. When I do get that fixed it will be that doctor to fix me.

My optometrist (DO not MD) dialates me, but he's in practice with an MD. I see him for routine maintenance and semirigid contacts. The big magnified yellow light that he shines around makes me see the ghost image of the blood vessels in my retina. It's pretty trippy.

He might just be old school, he is my age (50!) after all - they also do the contact pressure reading rather than the air puff. Once you're numb, I think it used to actually be cocaine, the big blue donut actually pushes on your cornea. Also pretty trippy!

I'm blessed with good eyes, except for their unfortunate shape. I'll be happy with that...

[charlesbahn]

I'm an ophthalmologist. That means I am a physician (went to medical school, did an internship (general surgery), then did an ophthalmology residency; then additional specialty training in cornea problems and glaucoma. Opticians make glasses. Optometrists go to optometry school. We all offer eye care at some level.

Eye care is changing. Many practices are being bought up by private equity. The emphasis is becoming largely how many patients can you see, and generate extra income doing some tests- tests that are not insurance covered and require out of pocket payment are financially (not medically) best.

Dilating the eyes takes time and patients often don't like it; and the doctor generally does not get paid more for doing it. But is it essential for a comprehensive evaluation of the back of the eye. The digital pictures are basically a screening tool, they do no show the far retina which is where there most significant problems usually occur (retinal holes and tears). Often these can only be detected by looking directly at the retina while gently pushing on the eye (scleral depression).

If your eye care provider does not regularly dilate your pupils, you should seek eye care elsewhere.

Charles

[gacook]

^^^Thanks for weighing in, Doc!

My eye guy said the digital thing is "better" than dilating...nice to hear some contrary input from a good source.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

I'm an ophthalmologist.

Yeah! That's what I meant. This dumb guy typing here gravely mistitled him. I usually just call him "Tim." Good guy though he's a bit too honest about my eyes getting older.

He's my age - I was probably one of his first patients near the end of the 20th century. We're old I guess...

[NY65912]

Just had my yearly exam. My opthalmologist dilates my eyes every time and makes me stare into the sun. I take Uber because there's no way I can drive after it.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

I'm an ophthalmologist...

All I can say is thanks...like every chuckle head that waited too long on cataracts, your ability to directly impact the life's of many in such a positive way - vision - must be very satisfying.

Best.