How long after eye dilation do eyes return to normal?
Many factors influence how long dilating drops remain active after instilled.
These include how "strong" a drop was used, how sensitive the patient is to the drop, color of the eyes (blue usually stay dilated longer), and other factors. Most dilating drops used for diagnostic purposes in the office wear off after 4-24 hours. Patients often are sensitive to light, and may have trouble reading.