These drops allow the optometrist to assess the prescription of children’s eyes more accurately, and occasionally adult’s eyes too. They work by fully relaxing the lens in the eye, which can sometimes affect the measurement. The drops also widen the pupil.
They generally take around 30 minutes to work and up to 24 hours to fully wear off. The drops will cause a temporary loss of focus and may sting for a very brief period after instillation.
It’s important to avoid activities such as cycling while the vision is blurred. The drops may cause difficulty seeing close objects for around 4-6 hours. Sunglasses may be helpful to reduce sensitivity to light due to the large pupils, especially in sunlight. Please don’t worry if the pupils remain large for up to 24 hours.
If you experience any unusual symptoms arise, contact your Specsavers store or seek medical advice urgently as an adverse reaction to the drops could be occurring.
Unusual symptoms may include:
- Pain and redness in or around the eyes
- Disorientation
- Incoherent speech
- Visual disturbances
- Palpitations or a racing pulse