Slit Lamp Examination

How It Feels

There normally is no discomfort involved with a slit lamp examination.

Dilating drops may make your eyes sting and cause a medicine taste in your mouth. You will have trouble focusing your eyes for up to 12 hours after your eyes have been dilated. Your distance vision usually is not affected as much as your near vision, though your eyes may be very sensitive to light. Do not drive for several hours after your eyes have been dilated. Wearing sunglasses may make you more comfortable until the effect of the drops wears off.

Anesthetic drops usually wear off in about 30 minutes.

Risks

In some people, the dilating or anesthetic eyedrops can cause:

Brief episodes of nausea, vomiting, dryness of the mouth, flushing, and dizziness.

An allergic reaction.

A sudden increase in pressure inside the eyeball (closed-angle glaucoma).

Contact your doctor immediately if you have severe and sudden eye pain, vision problems (halos may appear around light), or loss of vision after the examination.