Child's eye test with dilating drops (cycloplegia)
cycloplegic refraction · eye test with drops · dilated eye exam for kids · atropine eye drops test
Your child gets eye drops that relax the eye muscle for a while. This lets the doctor find out exactly whether glasses are needed.
Before first glasses, if nearsightedness, farsightedness, or a squint is suspected, and to follow up on vision.
⏱ Duration: drops and waiting usually take 30 to 60 minutes; sometimes drops are given at home for several days; results right away
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Plans. The drops can work from a few hours to a few days. Ask the clinic, and do not plan reading activities for that day.
- Your child. Explain that the drops sting a little, but it goes away quickly.
- Sun. Bring a cap or sunglasses. Light will feel too bright.
What to bring
- Your child's ID
- Your child's glasses, if they have them
- A cap or sunglasses
- A toy or book for the wait
How it goes
- A nurse puts drops in both eyes
- Sometimes the drops are repeated several times
- You wait for the pupils to get bigger
- The doctor shines a special light into the eyes
- The eyes are measured with a machine
- The doctor looks at the back of the eye and explains the result
What you'll feel
- The drops sting for a few seconds
- Then light feels too bright, and it is hard to see up close
- This is temporary and goes away on its own
Afterwards
- While the drops work, it is hard for your child to read and draw
- Protect the eyes from bright sun
- If drops are prescribed at home, use them exactly as the doctor said
- A glasses prescription is usually given right away
Contact a doctor straight away if
- A red face, fever, very dry mouth, or agitation after the drops: call the doctor
- Your child is limp, very sleepy, or very restless: call emergency services
- Severe eye pain or redness
Common questions
Why use drops if you can just check with an eye chart?
A child's eye works very hard and can hide farsightedness or show false nearsightedness. The drops relax the eye and give an accurate result.
Is it harmful?
With the right dose, it is a common and safe procedure. Tell the doctor about your child's health problems.