Babies' eyes are dilated using eye drops containing medication.
While babies' pupils naturally dilate and constrict in response to light, to achieve dilation for medical examinations, assistance is required.
Eye Dilation Procedure in Babies
When a doctor needs to examine a baby's eyes, they use special eye drops. According to the reference, "an ophthalmic technician will place eye drops into the eye. These drops contain medication that will enlarge (dilate) the pupil of the eye." These drops work by relaxing the muscles that control pupil size.
Here's a breakdown:
- Eye Drops: The drops contain medication specifically designed to dilate the pupil.
- Application: A trained ophthalmic technician administers the drops.
- Mechanism: The medication in the drops affects the muscles in the iris (the colored part of the eye), causing the pupil to widen.
