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Retinopathy Check

curlyk

curlyk

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Hi everyone,

I had my first eye screening today. Everything was fine and the team were lovely. I was fortunate in that I didn’t have many side effects to my pupils dilating and the blurry sight disappeared very quickly.

Does anyone have a rough time frame for how long it takes for eyes to return to normal? My pupils are still dilated after getting drops at 1.45pm. On the sheet I’ve been given, it said to go to A&E for prolonged dilation - but I didn’t think to ask how long that meant! My eyes feel tired, but otherwise they feel normal.
 
if ur worried try 111 hope alls well now
 
curlyk said:
Hi everyone,

I had my first eye screening today. Everything was fine and the team were lovely. I was fortunate in that I didn’t have many side effects to my pupils dilating and the blurry sight disappeared very quickly.

Does anyone have a rough time frame for how long it takes for eyes to return to normal? My pupils are still dilated after getting drops at 1.45pm. On the sheet I’ve been given, it said to go to A&E for prolonged dilation - but I didn’t think to ask how long that meant! My eyes feel tired, but otherwise they feel normal.
Click to expand...
Mine usually take a long time at least 8 hours.
 
Mine were also still a bit out of kilter at the 8hr point. I didn't notice when full recovery happened. That all felt normal and much as I would expect.
 
@curlyk I haven't had my first test yet. However since 2007 I have had occasional flares of uveitis ( inflammation of the eye) and would have dilating drops for the eye examinations plus have to put in dilating drops at home ( cylopentate) which I think may be stronger than the ones used in the eye exam. Ultimately my pupils stuck down so my eyes are difficult to dilate. I had a cataract op a few weeks ago and the surgeon unstuck the pupil but said further flares of uveitis would stick it down again. As foretold by the consultant the op caused the uveitis to flare and I'm putting drops in. These are maxidex which don't dilate. When it first started a consultant actually told me as I was short sighted I was OK to drive with the drops. I hadn't driven myself to the hospital. I think you should go back to normal that day. I cannot be definitive because for more than a decade I was given dilating drops to use as treatment. I know my optician won't do an exam until a few weeks have passed from using drops but i don't know if that is maxidex or cyclopentate. I only use dilating drops for a few weeks whereas maxidex is used for 8 weeks tapering down to once a day.
 
curlyk said:
Does anyone have a rough time frame for how long it takes for eyes to return to normal?
Click to expand...
The rest of the day usually, then fine next day
 
I think the average time is 4 - 6 hours for things to get back to normal but I go much longer, often 8 hours plus.

Bizarrely, dilating my pupils doesn’t particularly affect my vision so I don’t really notice, other than the obvious dilation when looking in the mirror.
 
It normally goes very grey and rains heavily whilst I'm having it done, then just before I come out of the building bright sunshine appears and instantly blinds me, or it happens halfway home. Even in midwinter and uniform grey everything I've never yet been able to drive again that day.
 
I generally leave it about 5-6 hours before driving just to be safe but I am not sure I have actively checked in the mirror to see if dilation has returned to normal. I would say it is probably about an hour or two when my eyes feel comfortable and my vision has returned to normal.
 
curlyk said:
Hi everyone,

I had my first eye screening today. Everything was fine and the team were lovely. I was fortunate in that I didn’t have many side effects to my pupils dilating and the blurry sight disappeared very quickly.

Does anyone have a rough time frame for how long it takes for eyes to return to normal? My pupils are still dilated after getting drops at 1.45pm. On the sheet I’ve been given, it said to go to A&E for prolonged dilation - but I didn’t think to ask how long that meant! My eyes feel tired, but otherwise they feel normal.
Click to expand...
Hello, mine usually lasts a good 6 hours (and i'm wearing sunglasses too). If you're worried i'd call NHS 111 who can provide some helpful information and advice over the phone and let you know next steps.

My eyes feel tired afterwards too and sometimes, I get a headache (because they are so sensitive to light).

I hope your first eye screening went well though and you had lots of self-care afterwards! (I'm always listening to audio books after I have my screening!).
 
Thank you all for your kind words. I think I had a really positive experience overall. My eyes were still a little dilated last night, so maybe 10 hours until back to normal, but they’ve been absolutely fine today. I had a tiny bit of blurry eye sight with the drops but otherwise, barely any reaction, I was incredibly fortunate. My eyes were very tired last night, and a little headache, but lots of lovely time with the dog and sitting on the sofa.
 
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