Why do eye doctors keep your eyes dilated for up to two weeks after retinal deta!


Question: Two reasons. 1) Dilation relaxes the iris and ciliary body (focusing muscle) in the eye which reduces inflammation. After surgery, those muscles become inflammed just like any muscle would after surgery. Paralyzing (dilating) the muscles helps reduce pain and helps the eye heal quicker by reducing inflammation. This is the primary reason you are dilated.

2) The ciliary muscles is connected to the retina. When it contracts, it pulls (gently) on the retina, which you obviously don't want shortly after surgery to reattach the retina.

Dilating the eye does not relieve pressure in the eye.


Answers: Two reasons. 1) Dilation relaxes the iris and ciliary body (focusing muscle) in the eye which reduces inflammation. After surgery, those muscles become inflammed just like any muscle would after surgery. Paralyzing (dilating) the muscles helps reduce pain and helps the eye heal quicker by reducing inflammation. This is the primary reason you are dilated.

2) The ciliary muscles is connected to the retina. When it contracts, it pulls (gently) on the retina, which you obviously don't want shortly after surgery to reattach the retina.

Dilating the eye does not relieve pressure in the eye.

I would think it would be to relieve pressure on the repair in some way while it heals but i'm not 100% sure.

The eye is kept in a dilated state for a period of time (several weeks) to alleviate possible pressure build-up in the Eye.

I have to presume you are using drops to maintain the dilation.

Asked an ophthalmologist who is on standby with me tonight. Quiet at present (voluntary)

That's a question I would have asked the doc before surgery.





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