During a comprehensive eye exam , the optometrist or ophthalmologist will likely put drops in a patient's eyes that cause their pupils to dilate. It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes for the drops to take effect. When they do, it gives the eye doctor the opportunity to test for certain pupillary reactions—some of which can reveal neurological problems—as well as gain insight into the health of the internal structures of the eye, including the retina , vitreous, optic nerve , blood vessels choroid , and macula.
It typically takes a few hours for the dilating drops to wear off, so it may be a good idea to have someone drive you to your appointment, if possible. Trauma to the eye or the brain can also cause dilated pupils. Typically, it is blunt closed trauma that damages the iris sphincter muscle—which is responsible for constricting the pupil—or one of the pathways in the brain that controls it.
It can also cause bleeding inside the skull, which may result in dilated pupils. Other than trauma, eye injuries can also result from intraocular surgery like cataract removal and corneal transplant, or following retinal procedures. In addition to drugs and injuries, dilated pupils in one or both eyes may also be the result of a handful of medical conditions, including:.
Finally, there are a few additional causes of dilated pupils. For example, recent research has indicated that increased levels of oxytocin —the "love" or "bonding" hormone—may result in dilated pupils in situations involving attraction, mood, or an emotional response to someone or something.
There is also evidence that a person's pupils can dilate in situations where they are concentrating very hard on something, including making a decision. If you have persistent or unexplained changes in pupil size, then it's time to discuss it with your healthcare provider. If pupil dilation in one or both eyes is accompanied by certain symptoms, it could be the sign of an emergency, requiring you to seek medical treatment immediately.
These symptoms include:. Not only do our pupils have the important function of regulating the light that enters our eyes, but they can also indicate a variety of other health issues—ranging from those that resolve on their own, to those that require immediate medical care. Next time you take a look in the mirror, take note of the size of your pupils. You may also want to dim and raise the lights in the room to see how your pupils react.
This will give you a basic idea of what your pupils usually look like and how they typically react to light. It could be useful moving forward, like if you notice your pupils aren't their usual size or reacting the way they normally would to light. In those situations, it's best to consult your healthcare provider about this symptom—unless, of course, it's accompanied by any of the symptoms above that could indicate a medical emergency.
If that happens, seek medical attention immediately. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Women's Health. Primary Care. Mental Health. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close.
Madeline Kennedy. This article was medically reviewed by Howard R. Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness.
The team showed that bisexual men and heterosexual women had dilated pupils in response to erotic videos that included people of either sex. Another study, this time in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior , focused on associations between pupil dilation and sexual attraction. The researchers found that it was possible to determine sexual interest from the size and darkness of the pupils. Pupil size also appears to respond to hormonal changes. One study recruited 14 women to view arousing pictures on a computer screen on different occasions.
Half of the women were taking hormonal birth control pills. Women not taking birth control pills had dilated pupils while viewing arousing pictures during ovulation. This did not occur in women taking birth control pills.
There is also some evidence to suggest that pupil dilation may indicate trust. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that pupil size changes play a role in trust formation. It remains unclear why pupil dilation might be involved in attraction. It could be a result of hormonal changes. However, many other factors can also affect pupil dilation. For example, research also suggests that paying attention to something can influence pupil size. It could be easy to mistake paying attention for attraction.
More research in this area will be necessary to establish whether pupil dilation is a sign of attraction or a result of other factors, such as hormones or involuntary bodily responses. Pupil dilation occurs for a variety of reasons. Mostly, pupils change size depending on how much light is necessary for proper vision.
Other factors can also influence pupil dilation, such as medication or drug use. However, some research suggests that emotions can also influence pupil dilation, including sexual attraction.
This might be due to hormonal changes. These will usually last for about four to six hours. Dilation allows an eye doctor to look inside your eyes. The widened pupil allows your doctor to use a magnifying lens to look inside your eye and at the back of your eye. It also helps diagnose some chronic conditions that affect more than your eye, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. This is because those conditions can lead to changes in the eye. For example, high blood pressure could damage the blood vessels in your retina, which can be seen only when your eye is dilated.
Dilating drops can also be used to treat certain eye conditions. Dilating drops used as treatment have the same effects as drops used during exams. They can also help diagnose diseases, both those that affect the eye only and other chronic conditions. A complete exam includes dilation. Schedule an eye exam every year if you or your child:.
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