FAQ

Will I need a driver?

Most people do feel comfortable to drive after their pupils have been dilated. However, if you have never had your pupils dilated before (and therefore don’t know if you will feel safe or not), we recommend that you bring a driver or arrange for someone to pick you up after your exam.

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Can You Drive With Dilated Eyes?

Going in for an eye exam? Your doctor may dilate your eyes to make sure they’re healthy. But the test can leave you battling the glare of sunlight and blurry vision. So is it safe to drive yourself home after your appointment?

The answer depends on a few things, including how comfortable you feel behind the wheel. But it’s important to understand how your vision will change when your eyes are dilated.

How Dilation Affects Your Vision

When you get your eyes dilated, your doctor uses special drops to open your pupils wide. This lets her get a look at your whole eye, including all the nerves and blood vessels at the back, to check for signs of diseases.

The drops your doctor uses usually last for 4-6 hours, or sometimes longer. That means your pupils stay wide open and can’t block out light in bright areas as they usually would. That causes glare and makes your vision blurry. If you decide to drive before the drops have worn off, you won’t be able to see things as clearly as usual.

Should You Drive?

Your eyesight will be impaired, so some experts say you should play it safe and not get behind the wheel. Others say it depends on how comfortable you feel with the effects of dilation.

Know your own driving. If you’re usually not comfortable behind the wheel, then it’s probably not a good idea to drive while your eyes are dilated.

Mind the driving conditions. Even without dilated eyes, it’s harder to see in the rain, snow, or when it’s dark. If conditions aren’t ideal, get someone else to pick you up.

When you schedule your appointment, ask if you can expect to have your pupils dilated during the exam. That will help you know what arrangements you should make ahead of time.