Hey, mannnnn.....
April 23, 2009 1:21 PM Subscribe
Is there a safe, legal way to dilate my pupils OR just make them look dilated?
It's for a costume party. I'm going as a hippie, and I figured that the dilated pupils would be a nice touch. I'd like to be in-costume for a good 5 hours, but I don't need to have my pupils look dilated the entire time.
It's for a costume party. I'm going as a hippie, and I figured that the dilated pupils would be a nice touch. I'd like to be in-costume for a good 5 hours, but I don't need to have my pupils look dilated the entire time.
Supposedly pupils dilate when you're turned on or see someone you like. Bring someone you like to look at!
Chances are people wouldn't notice a detail like that in a costume though - especially if the lights will be dimmed at the party. Although, dimmed lights would dilate pupils. But, once again, no one would see them then.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 1:26 PM on April 23, 2009
Chances are people wouldn't notice a detail like that in a costume though - especially if the lights will be dimmed at the party. Although, dimmed lights would dilate pupils. But, once again, no one would see them then.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 1:26 PM on April 23, 2009
You'll have temporarily impaired vision if you artificially dilate your pupils, obviously. This is why eye doctors give you dark glasses before leaving the office and warn you about driving without them.
I suggest colored contacts.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:31 PM on April 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I suggest colored contacts.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:31 PM on April 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Contact lenses. This brand/style of lens seems to be called "I.fax" or "Ifax."
posted by Rora at 1:32 PM on April 23, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Rora at 1:32 PM on April 23, 2009 [2 favorites]
There are drops that dilate your pupils. I think the only legal way to get your hands on them would be to go in for an eye exam. I had to keep my pupils dilated for an extended period of time once, and I'd recommend that you not go ahead with this. If there's significant light where you are, your vision will be blurry, and your eyes will hurt. It's not terribly painful, but it might be painful enough to interfere with your enjoyment of the party. And if there's not significant light, nobody will be able to tell that your pupils are dilated.
I assume that someone makes fake-dilated contacts, for movies and stuff, but I have no idea where to find them.
posted by craichead at 1:34 PM on April 23, 2009
I assume that someone makes fake-dilated contacts, for movies and stuff, but I have no idea where to find them.
posted by craichead at 1:34 PM on April 23, 2009
Rather than hope people notice the size of my pupils I would go with halved ping pong balls with big drawn on black centers glued to my face.
posted by The Straightener at 1:34 PM on April 23, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by The Straightener at 1:34 PM on April 23, 2009 [4 favorites]
There's always the old school method of pupil dilation: 1-2 tabs of decent blotter, taken 45 minutes before arriving at the party. You'll be "in costume" for at least five hours.
posted by mosk at 1:45 PM on April 23, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by mosk at 1:45 PM on April 23, 2009 [6 favorites]
You don't want to do this - you could damage your retinas.
posted by phrontist at 1:48 PM on April 23, 2009
posted by phrontist at 1:48 PM on April 23, 2009
Hippies often wear sunglasses inside or have red bloodshot eyes. If you can't get the pupil thing done [and you could go with pinpointed pupils for a different sort of drug reaction] you could try one of those options.
posted by jessamyn at 1:52 PM on April 23, 2009
posted by jessamyn at 1:52 PM on April 23, 2009
Benadryl or most antihistamines will do this.
(I am sometimes accused of being stoned during allergy season. I wish.)
posted by rokusan at 1:52 PM on April 23, 2009
(I am sometimes accused of being stoned during allergy season. I wish.)
posted by rokusan at 1:52 PM on April 23, 2009
When someone sees someone they like, their pupils dilate. At some non-conscious level we are aware of this. A very old study took photos of a blue-eyed woman. In one group, her pupils were airbrushed to great size; the other, pinpricks. The woman in the former group was described as attractive and warm. In the latter group, she was described as "cold."
Thus, one of the ways to make yourself appear attractive is to make yourself appear as if you are attracted to others. The way this was done in the olden days was with belladonna. Yup. Belladonna, drops, in the eyes; not Bella Donna, the Stevie Nicks album, in the ears.
They might still be around. Dosage, well, you'd have to be careful. Because it's belladonna, in your eyes.
Have fun.
posted by adipocere at 2:04 PM on April 23, 2009
Thus, one of the ways to make yourself appear attractive is to make yourself appear as if you are attracted to others. The way this was done in the olden days was with belladonna. Yup. Belladonna, drops, in the eyes; not Bella Donna, the Stevie Nicks album, in the ears.
They might still be around. Dosage, well, you'd have to be careful. Because it's belladonna, in your eyes.
Have fun.
posted by adipocere at 2:04 PM on April 23, 2009
Ephedra causes pupil dilation, as does, I believe, some of the "safe ephedra" supplements notably the herb called 'bitter orange'. Ephedra is illegal of course, and in any case you wouldn't want to be taking that while drinking. If you know a reputable herb shop or Chinese medicine place, you could go ask them. They might know something and get a kick out of it at the same time.
Okay that pretty much is all I know. So now here's the warning: That's a dumb idea. Just dress up and throw on a bunch of patoulli - you'll be fine. Don't take anything and risk some reaction while you are drinking and partying. Also, that stuff they give for an eye exam makes it very hard for you to focus on anything for hours, so that's an equally dumb idea.
posted by elendil71 at 2:06 PM on April 23, 2009
Okay that pretty much is all I know. So now here's the warning: That's a dumb idea. Just dress up and throw on a bunch of patoulli - you'll be fine. Don't take anything and risk some reaction while you are drinking and partying. Also, that stuff they give for an eye exam makes it very hard for you to focus on anything for hours, so that's an equally dumb idea.
posted by elendil71 at 2:06 PM on April 23, 2009
I've had the aforementioned drops several times---it's absolutely no fun. Bright lights are physically painful, your vision is blurry because your eyes are tearing all the time and your eyeballs sting.
I'd do Mr. Nog's muppet thing.
posted by bonehead at 2:09 PM on April 23, 2009
I'd do Mr. Nog's muppet thing.
posted by bonehead at 2:09 PM on April 23, 2009
What you're looking for is a mydriatic! (Why yes, I have been saving that word up for an occasion like this.)
The only ones on that list that are safe and legal are the ophthalmic medications, though.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:09 PM on April 23, 2009
The only ones on that list that are safe and legal are the ophthalmic medications, though.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:09 PM on April 23, 2009
Response by poster: Is there a safe, legal way to dilate my pupils OR just make them look dilated?
Ahem.
Actually, kinda interested in the contact lenses Rora linked to above. Anybody have any experience with them? Is there any way they could be harmful? Anybody know if the retailer is trustworthy?
posted by Afroblanco at 2:13 PM on April 23, 2009
Ahem.
Actually, kinda interested in the contact lenses Rora linked to above. Anybody have any experience with them? Is there any way they could be harmful? Anybody know if the retailer is trustworthy?
posted by Afroblanco at 2:13 PM on April 23, 2009
Best answer: These look similar, and this brand (Wild eyes) is pretty famous, but I have never used them.
posted by clearlydemon at 2:43 PM on April 23, 2009
posted by clearlydemon at 2:43 PM on April 23, 2009
Best answer: I don't know about the brand Rora linked to specifically, butif you want to find other sources of similar lenses your search term is "scleral lens" -- they're safe, if a bit uncomfortable to put in / remove (they cover the entire eyeball, not just the iris. Semi-sclerals also exist, but can be harder to find.) They're available in zillions of styles from many sources.
They're a bit pricey, though, for a one-time gag. Personally I'd go with a pair of john lennon style sunglasses.
posted by ook at 2:45 PM on April 23, 2009
They're a bit pricey, though, for a one-time gag. Personally I'd go with a pair of john lennon style sunglasses.
posted by ook at 2:45 PM on April 23, 2009
So let's run down the choices: (1) apply drops which, even if used legally and safely and cheaply (including cost of an eye exam, maybe), will make it hard for you to see and intolerant of light, without necessarily being noticed by others; (2) apply ping pong ball halves which are great if you want to go as a muppet hippie, but will also make it hard to see; (3) stare at the hottest guests the whole time so as to produce the effect naturally, the effect on your pupils being almost certainly unnoticed, but which may make it hard to see when you get punched in the eye.
I would definitely go with a pair of hippie sunglasses. You know, the little, rectangular kind. They would dominate so far as appearance goes, and be so much easier on you.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 3:18 PM on April 23, 2009
I would definitely go with a pair of hippie sunglasses. You know, the little, rectangular kind. They would dominate so far as appearance goes, and be so much easier on you.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 3:18 PM on April 23, 2009
just hang out in the dark for two+ minutes before you're introduced to anyone. Your eyes will be hurt, but they'll be dilated for a few seconds while they readjust to the light.
posted by cmyr at 3:23 PM on April 23, 2009
posted by cmyr at 3:23 PM on April 23, 2009
just hang out in the dark for two+ minutes before you're introduced to anyone. Your eyes will be hurt, but they'll be dilated for a few seconds while they readjust to the light.
Keep doing this throughout the party, and everyone will think you're attending either as a serial murderer or a coat-hanger.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 3:29 PM on April 23, 2009
Keep doing this throughout the party, and everyone will think you're attending either as a serial murderer or a coat-hanger.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 3:29 PM on April 23, 2009
Fastest/safest way to do this? Wear sunglasses, and lift 'em up when you talk to people. Your eyes will dilate under the glasses, and be wide open when you show 'em off.
(However, as someone who has done the thing you seek to imitate, you should note that the pupils don't just dilate, they're inconsistently and asynchronously dilating—which is what gives the "the walls are breathing" effect. That's how you can instantly tell who's tripping, and just having wide-open eyes isn't the same).
posted by klangklangston at 4:01 PM on April 23, 2009
(However, as someone who has done the thing you seek to imitate, you should note that the pupils don't just dilate, they're inconsistently and asynchronously dilating—which is what gives the "the walls are breathing" effect. That's how you can instantly tell who's tripping, and just having wide-open eyes isn't the same).
posted by klangklangston at 4:01 PM on April 23, 2009
During the Renaissance, Italian women used to use tincture of belladonna in their eyes to make them dilate, because it was thought to be sexy.
But dilating your pupils isn't really safe; you can damage your retina that way through light overexposure. I think that contact lenses are a much better answer here.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:29 PM on April 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
But dilating your pupils isn't really safe; you can damage your retina that way through light overexposure. I think that contact lenses are a much better answer here.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:29 PM on April 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Anybody have any experience with them? Is there any way they could be harmful? Anybody know if the retailer is trustworthy?
A person on a message board I frequent got a prescription from her regular eye doctor for the lenses mentioned by clearlydemon. Their doctor was apparently amused, but not concerned. Anecdotal, but you might try giving your/a eyedoctor a call.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:19 PM on April 24, 2009
A person on a message board I frequent got a prescription from her regular eye doctor for the lenses mentioned by clearlydemon. Their doctor was apparently amused, but not concerned. Anecdotal, but you might try giving your/a eyedoctor a call.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:19 PM on April 24, 2009
Response by poster: Yeah, looks like the lenses are probably the best option for this sort of thing. However, they are, as ook suggested, way to expensive for a one-off costume. I think I'll probably just find some other way to exude hippieness.
Oh yeah, and I should mention that the FDA recommends only buying FDA-approved lenses from US or Canadian distributors. Probably wise.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:12 AM on April 25, 2009
Oh yeah, and I should mention that the FDA recommends only buying FDA-approved lenses from US or Canadian distributors. Probably wise.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:12 AM on April 25, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by availablelight at 1:25 PM on April 23, 2009