Your first retina appointment at Retina Care will involve more testing than a standard eye exam — including pupil dilation and imaging. Here’s exactly what happens and how to prepare so the visit goes smoothly.
A retina appointment is different from a routine eye exam, and the differences matter for how you prepare and what you plan afterward. You will likely have your pupils dilated, which affects your vision for a few hours. While most people can drive with dilated eyes, there is a chance you may find it bothersome or difficult, so please plan accordingly. The appointment will typically include specialized imaging that doesn’t cause you any discomfort but does take time. Understanding what to expect reduces anxiety and helps you get the most from the visit.
Before Your Appointment
Bring your glasses or contact lenses if possible— your vision will be checked with your current correction. Bring a list of all medications you take, including eye drops, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs. If you take blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, newer anticoagulants), mention this specifically as it’s relevant if a procedure is performed. Our office typically will receive notes from your referring doctor, but if it’s not too difficult, bring any prior records from your past or current eye doctor if you have them.
Pupil dilation makes your vision slightly blurry and somewhat sensitive to bright light for 3 to 6 hours. You can usually still read and function indoors, but driving after dilation can be problematic for some people, so driving yourself is your choice. Many patients bring a pair of sunglasses to wear after dilation — they help with the light sensitivity significantly. Do not drive yourself if you do not feel completely safe.
What Happens at Check-In
After check-in, a technician will take your medical and ocular history and record your current medications. Your visual acuity will be tested in each eye — with your glasses or contacts if you have them — using a standard eye chart. Intraocular pressure (eye pressure) may also be checked (not with a puff of air). These baseline measurements are taken before dilation to get accurate readings unaffected by the dilation drops.
Pupil Dilation
Dilation drops are typically placed in both eyes for the first visit. These drops widen the pupil, which allows Dr. Peter Karth to see the full retina — including the far periphery where retinal tears and detachments often start. The drops take 10 to 15 minutes to fully dilate the pupils. Dilation causes some blur up close and increased sensitivity to light. It does not hurt, though the drops may sometimes sting briefly when first applied. If you cannot have one or both pupils dilated on your first visit, please call ahead, as we don’t want you to waste your visit. We will do everything we can to work with you and find a solution that allows Dr. Peter Karth to perform a thorough exam and to meet your dilation preferences.
Retinal Imaging
Retinal imaging is performed before the examination with Dr. Peter Karth. At Retina Care, standard imaging typically includes:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A non-contact scan that produces a detailed cross-sectional image of the retina. You rest your chin on a support and look at a fixation light. The machine scans your retina in seconds using light — there is no contact with the eye, no discomfort, and no radiation. OCT is the most important diagnostic tool in retinal medicine and guides virtually every treatment decision.
- Fundus photography (possibly): Photographs of the retina taken with a specialized camera. You look into the camera lens and a brief bright flash captures the image. Wide-field photography can capture the peripheral retina in a single image.
The Examination with Dr. Peter Karth
Dr. Peter Karth will review your imaging and then examine your eyes directly using a slit lamp — a microscope that illuminates the eye with a thin beam of light. For the retinal examination, a small lens is held gently near the eye (with eye drops applied to numb the surface if contact is needed) to view the peripheral retina. The bright light used during the exam is noticeably bright for a few seconds.
After reviewing the imaging and completing the examination, Dr. Peter Karth will discuss his findings with you directly. He will explain what the imaging shows, what condition is present if one is identified, and what the options are — including whether treatment is recommended, what treatment would involve, and what happens if you choose to watch and wait rather than treat immediately. You’ll have time to ask questions. At Retina Care, the goal is for you to leave understanding your diagnosis and plan clearly. In fact, it’s something we’re known for!
If a Procedure Is Performed at the First Visit
Some conditions warrant treatment at the first visit — a retinal tear that needs laser photocoagulation, for example, or urgent wet AMD needing an anti-VEGF injection. If Dr. Peter Karth recommends treatment the same day, the procedure will be explained before it is performed, including what to expect during and after. Laser treatment for a retinal tear takes a few minutes. An intravitreal injection takes less than five minutes. Both are done with topical anesthesia and are well-tolerated by the vast majority of patients. Of course, you always have the option of coming a different day. We try to offer same-day procedures whenever possible for your convenience, not ours.
After the Appointment
Dilation effects typically resolve within 3 to 6 hours. Most patients can return to normal activity the same day, though they should avoid driving until the dilation has worn off. If a procedure was performed, specific aftercare instructions will be provided. At follow-up visits, the process is similar but often shorter, as your history and imaging baseline are already established.
Retina Care sees patients from throughout western Oregon, the Rogue Valley, and the Oregon coast. If you have questions before your appointment about what to expect, call the office — the team is glad to walk you through what your specific visit will involve.
At Retina Care, retinal specialist Peter Karth, MD, MBA, FASRS, FACS is happy to help you with your retina concerns. Please call 541-873-8462 to schedule an appointment at a location near you.