Normally, your pupil gets smaller when light shines into it. In dilation, your doctor uses special eye drops to force the pupil to stay open. This allows them to see much more of the back of your eye, including the entire retina, the part of the retina called the macula, and the optic nerve.

Is eye Dilation painful?

A dilated eye exam involves widening, or dilating, the pupil so the eye doctor can get a better view into your eye. The doctor dilates the eye using special eye drops. It's not a painful process, and is tolerated well by most people.

How long after eyes dilated Can I drive?

Typically, vision is back to normal within an hour. There is no specific period of time that a person must wait before driving after having their eyes dilated; the decision to drive after an eye exam is a personal choice.