More than one OD posted in this forum mentioning about doing the dilation test during regular eye exam.

What is the main purpose of the test?

How often does a regular person require such test?

Will the test find out some problems that the patient him/herself does not even feel?

Who belongs to the high risk group for this kind of test?

I do not think that a CL wearer like me belongs to the high risk group since the purpose of the test is to see something inside the eyeball while a CL will just affect the surface condition of the eyeball. However, I remember reading an article a ong time ago that people with severe near-sight are more likely to have retina detachment. Again, how severe is severe, please give some numbers or ranges?

Please educate me and correct me if I am wrong.