“Optometrists live longer because they dilate”

“Optometrists live longer because they dilate” is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. “Dilate” is a pun on “die late.”
   
The joke has been cited in print since at least 2011. Authorship is unknown.
     
   
Twitter
mantic59
@mantic59
Do optometrists live longer because they dilate? #pun
9:04 AM · Oct 26, 2011·Twitter Web Client
         
Twitter     
⫩..Emma.B..⫩
@EmLou24
@tracey18 but on the upside, opticians live longer because they dilate 😉
3:35 PM · Nov 14, 2011·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
𝙺𝚎𝚣
@Goleudy
Optometrists live longer because they dilate.
3:51 PM · Dec 13, 2011·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Eric Gwin
@ericgwin
Optometrists live longer because they dilate.
2:31 PM · Mar 21, 2012·Hootsuite
   
Twitter
Landon Seth Reeves
@landonreeves08
Eye doctors live longer because they dilate.
12:49 PM · May 8, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
 
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/cuber1717 July 3, 2016
Did you know optometrists live longer?
They dilate
   
Facebook
Indian Hills Community Sign
May 3, 2018 ·
OPTOMETRISTS LIVE LONGER BECAUSE THEY DILATE
 
Twitter
Bill Hopkins
@JudgeHopkins
Ophthalmologists live longer. They dilate.
7:03 AM · Aug 30, 2018·Facebook
 
Twitter
ChristianSailing
@ChristnSailing
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
Optometrists live longer because they dilate
9:29 PM · Oct 3, 2018·Facebook
 
Twitter
KPMoore
@KPMoore8
Optometrists live longer because they dilate!
11:58 AM · Aug 27, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Robert Wilkinson
@robertwlk
Opticians live longer because they dilate
2:15 AM · Oct 23, 2020·Twitter for Android