# Pupil Dilation

## Overview

This module describes how to dilate pupils by instilling dilating drops into the eye.

## Indications

## Contraindications

## Patient information and consent

Always verify your patient’s identity and obtain informed consent before proceeding.

### How do I explain this procedure?

“To see into the back part of your eyeball, I need to give you eye drops that will enlarge your pupil, the dark part of your eye. The pupil normally gets smaller when a light is shined into it, but these drops will allow the pupil to stay wide open, so that I can examine and work in this area.”

### What can my patient expect?

“I will put the drops in your eyes every five minutes until your pupil becomes large enough. The drops don’t sting, but it may feel like everything is very bright once the drops are in. You will also struggle to focus with your eyes. It will take 4-6 hours, or even up to a full day for you to see normally again.”

### What is my patient’s role?

“Let me know if you have any eye conditions that you know of, or high blood pressure. When I put in the eye drops, tilt your head back so that the drops don’t flow out of your eye. Once the drops are in, keep your eyes closed, or press on the inner corner of your eye. After this procedure, you will need someone else to drive you home, and you may have difficulty reading today. Wearing sunglasses may relieve the feeling of brightness.”

## Preparation

### Documentation

### Equipment

## Site and Positioning

Position the patient sitting with their head tilted back.

## Procedure

Follow medical asepsis without gloves.

## Troubleshooting

The eye is taking a long time to dilate.

Some patients’ eyes take longer to dilate and may need more rounds of eye drops, such as

- Patients with b​​rown eyes
- Diabetics
- Patients with previous uveitis
- Patients with pseudoexfoliation
- Older persons

## Risks

## References