For my twice a year glaucoma test, the tech uses some gizmo that checks the pressure without dilation. It’s great, because I have allergy issues to many drops. @eyemgh might know what I’m talking about. It was used during COVID initially because…no contact for drops…and could be done during drive by visits.
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The “puff test” is great for pressure checks. If eye doctor wants a more accurate reading, she uses numbing drops.
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Pressure measurement and dilation are unrelated.
I hope never to be offered a puff test ever again. I thought that was very outdated. My doc/tech get my pressure in such a way as it just feels like they are looking into my eye. I would change offices (not an easy feat in my area) if anyone came near me with that air thing ever again. I hated it. Every time I mention it they admit that an entire generation was emotionally scarred by it ( despite the fact that they say they never used it there).
I did pay the extra $ at the last two optometrist appointments to avoid dilation. This appointment is with a new opthamologist.
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Regarding dilation versus the photos, dilation allows seeing into more of the eye, while photos give a record. So alternating them may allow getting some of the advantages of both.
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Having left eye done Sept. 15 and right eye Sept. 29. I will be glad to get it over with.
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Standard 30° posterior pole photos are essentially useless. You can see all of that through a regular size pupil. Stereo images of the nerve in glaucoma are the exception.
Ultra widefield images are different. You have to weigh the risk of missing actionable pathology in the extreme periphery vs. the trauma of dilation. The former is very low. The later, very substantial.
One in five patients have a significant, transient drop in vision of four or more lines of acuity after dilation, and we point them right to their cars to drive home. One of my patients tripped over a curb, broke her pelvis, and subsequently died. The risk is real.
There are all sorts of clinical indications for dilation. Using it for regular routine screening in asymptomatic, eyes that aren’t highly myopic might still be considered the standard of care in most communities, but with the advent of ultra widefield imaging, that should eventually change.
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Thank you for weighing in on this topic. I switched optometrists last year, and I have been impressed by my new, young doctor. Because his practice was set up relatively recently, his equipment and his approach are different than that of my former, older optometrist. I have no issue with the former optometrist, I just prefer the new doctor and the way he runs his practice. I got a bit concerned reading comments on this thread, because he doesn’t routinely dilate. He explained that he will do it if I experience issues that would prompt him to dilate. I’m glad to read your opinion, which makes me feel good about my current doctor’s practice.
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I had my visit Friday and I liked the doctor. The assistant waited for me to meet the doctor before putting in the drops since I had never had my eyes dilated before. The good news is I have excellent eye health. The no surprise news is I need cataract surgery. He explained the different options available to me and said no rush in deciding what type of lens. I also met with the scheduling manager who went over my insurance ( said I have good coverage with my traditional Medicare and my Blue Shield supplement). I think I will wait till the first of the year due to a few other medical things I have coming up. In the meantime I’m going to research what lens I want.
I’m glad I had my husband drive.
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My husband had an appointment with his optometrist yesterday. He has 20/15 vision now! He’s so happy.
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