Dilated Eyes and Hand Washing

[interestedinu2]

What is the range of time one's eyes should remain fully dilated after an eye exam? Yesterday my eyes remained totally dilated for 9 hours before I retired for the evening. Why so long this time?

Also, can a patient expect a doctor to wash his hands beofre an examination?  My doctor said he usually washes them only after he has examined someone with an eye infection. He was a bit irritated when I asked him to please wash his hands for the second part of my exam.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

U R Welcome

JCH III MD

[interestedinu2]

Thank you so much for the info. I'm glad to learn that it is normal to have a prolonged dilation time and that the effects of some drops can last up to a week! Thanks again for the great answers to my questions!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The length of time it take to wear off depends on many things: the type of drops used, the amount of medication that gets in the eye, the color of eyes (brown wear off faster) and whether the person wears contacts. Some eye drops like homatropine take 3-5 days to wear off and atropine can last a week or more.

I don't think that most physicians feel its necessary to wash their hands before every eye exam. Most do what I do: what after an infected case and wash before putting in or taking out contacts, doing office surgery.  I also wash my hands after any patient that has a cold or URI.

JCH III  MD