I detest this. It always takes me nearly 48 hours to get over having my eyes dilated. So I’m effectively blind right now, and will still be having blurry vision (more so than usual) tomorrow. I sorely miss the decades of perfect vision I had....

When I get my annual eye exam I pay $20 extra and they take pictures and don't have to dilate. Worth it to me and the doc says it's more accurate.

Tell them to take it easy on the drops. I make sure I get the reversal drops, it helps a lot. They took the best stuff off the market, but most docs have pilocarpine available which does help.

Suck it up, buttercup!

48 hours is a little long; typically 4 hours is the duration. Are you sure they’re not using a stronger dilating agent?

Even with advanced technology, IMNSHO nothing beats a dilated retinal view.

I pay an extra fee to have the exam without dilation and well worth it for me.
In seeing the pictures, though, I am curious how anything could be better.

I just had my eye exam this afternoon as well. But they do everything including taking the pictures and dilating the eyes and doing a manual investigation plus they do the peripheral vision test every time now and then they've got a check the eyeball pressure using the numbing drops.

From the time they called my name to the time I left to was probably 2 hours total

I only seem to take 6 or 8 hours to get over the dial a tion drops

I just had cataract surgery in both eyes done. The first one two weeks ago and the second one yesterday. So over the last month between exams and surgery I've been dilated probably a dozen times.

After the initial exams I was able to drive myself home. After surgery I had to be driven home because I was also mildly sedated. Don't know what my doc uses for drops but the dilation didn't seem that bad. When I got home from surgery and looked in the mirror my pupil was so big it looked like a shark eye!

Man what a difference though!! After one day after surgery I can read the lap top without glasses if I want. Glasses still help but my vision will improve even more in the coming weeks.

My eye Dr started using the Optomap digital system a few years ago, allowing me to forgo the dilated eyes issue. I really like the fact she has a digital image to compare with the previous years images.

I hate it too as it takes me about 3 days to get over the dilation. God Bless

There is some debate as to whether the Optomap is superior to dilated exam. You can bet if the eye doc has the machine he is going to use it. Here is the business side:


ACTION POINTS
CALCULATE BREAK-EVEN POINT: You will need to see 38 patients per month to meet your monthly lease payment.

CALCULATE ROI: Costs about $85,000 and can generate over $9,000 per month.

EDUCATE PATIENT IN EXAM ROOM. Explain why you’re taking the pictures, and e-mail images to the patient.

Retinal imaging technology is an investment that will pay off for both you and your patients. My practice, which uses Optos Daytona, has found the level of care we provide to patients enhanced, along with an increase in our revenues. Optos uses a scanning laser system to get a clearer, wider picture of the the retina, offering us incredibly in-depth images. With the instrument’s auto-luminance screening, you can see hemorrhaging and even more of the retina than a straight retinal camera can provide.

ROB BOTTOM LINE:
OPTOS RETINAL IMAGING CAMERA
Full Purchase Price: About $85,000

Leased: Approximately $1,700 per month with dollar buyout

Billed: $45 per image

Break-Even Point: 38 patients per month

Revenues: More than $9,000 per month on average

quote:

Originally posted by hudr:
I detest this. It always takes me nearly 48 hours to get over having my eyes dilated. So I’m effectively blind right now, and will still be having blurry vision (more so than usual) tomorrow. I sorely miss the decades of perfect vision I had....

Better temporary blindness than permanent. Btw, shouldn't this be in the What's Your Deal?

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by hudr:
I detest this. It always takes me nearly 48 hours to get over having my eyes dilated. So I’m effectively blind right now, and will still be having blurry vision (more so than usual) tomorrow. I sorely miss the decades of perfect vision I had....

Better temporary blindness than permanent. Btw, shouldn't this be in the What's Your Deal?

Told you I couldn’t see!

30 years old, had glasses since first grade, and ive never had my eyes dilated. My sister did once, and said it was weird. As a kid, i was jealous she got to do something i didnt get to do. Now, im not so jealous . Heres to hoping you Recover soon!

If any irregularities are noticed with the enhanced digital exams, they may still dialate.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
I just had cataract surgery in both eyes done. The first one two weeks ago and the second one yesterday. So over the last month between exams and surgery I've been dilated probably a dozen times.

After the initial exams I was able to drive myself home. After surgery I had to be driven home because I was also mildly sedated. Don't know what my doc uses for drops but the dilation didn't seem that bad. When I got home from surgery and looked in the mirror my pupil was so big it looked like a shark eye!

Man what a difference though!! After one day after surgery I can read the lap top without glasses if I want. Glasses still help but my vision will improve even more in the coming weeks.

I've had the same experience... dilation made zero difference to me after the surgery. I also noticed family pictures that I had not seen. Congrats on the excellent outcome! I was thrilled with mine. Dilation is a really big deal to some folks and it is a really big deal. My wife is one. She doesn't handle it well.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

I pay an extra fee to have the exam without dilation and well worth it for me.

I don't understand. You are paying for something NOT to be done?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

I pay an extra fee to have the exam without dilation and well worth it for me.

I don't understand. You are paying for something NOT to be done?

I do this also. You are paying a little extra for them to use a special device that can do the scan without the need for dilation.

Yeah, 48 hours is way too long.

I've been having to go to my optometrist every 3-4 months to monitor an issue with one of my eyes. Every trip is a dilation.

I went in to get a new prescription for glasses. The technician kept harping about dilation. My only thought was that it was to increase the size of the bill. The bill was $75 for a less than 5 minute exercise. Wife AKA financial wizard tells me that our insurance will pay for it.

So, totaled up, those new glasses will cost me over $350. Don't know how much of that will be covered by insurance. Not my area of expertise anymore.

The OP said it well. I hate going to any doctor. They don't seem a bit concerned with my comfort. I tell my wife to not make any more appointments for me. But I give in and go and then hate it.