You can't see close up because the drops relax the muscles that cause your pupil to contract. I have had this done, if you look in the mirror when it's first done, your eye will look nearly all pupil - more startling for me because I have light colored eyes (blue/grey). When the drops have worn off entirely, your pupils will be back to normal size.

That's not for glaucoma, by the way - that test (which I hate, but ...) is so they can check your retina, and your nerve connected to it, and make sure there are no tears, or that your retina isn't about to detach. I end up having it done every couple years because I am extremely near-sighted, and those are the people at highest risk for detached retinas.

The glaucoma test they do now - at least the one I had a few months ago - is no longer the "puff of air" one you mentioned, Uabassoon. Thank goodness, I always jumped and then wacked my head on the thing they put behind you. Owww! Now they measure the pressure some other way, no pain or puff involved. Ask next time you go!