Rabia Mobeen, Adnan Afsar, Faisal Rasheed, Faiza Jabeen.
Determination of Best Regime for Administration of Atropine Eye Drops for Cycloplegia.
Ophthalmol Update Jan ;14(4):135-9.

Objective: Refractive error is a very common disorder of eye and it frequently causes reduced vision in children which can affect their daily life and academic performance. Hence, it is very important for children to have an eye examination. High accommodative power in children affects the refractive status of eye, so it is necessary to relax it fully while assessing their refractive error. In this regard cycloplegic drugs are instilled in eyes for accuracy in measurements. Atropine is the most efficient cycloplegic agent but its recommended regimen is of very long duration so we have to find the best regime for atropine instillation to achieve maximum cycloplegia. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the best regime for administration of 1% atropine eye drops for cycloplegia and to see the effect of cycloplegia on different type of refractive errors. 30 patients of age between 0 to 12 years were assessed using a self designed performa. Patients requiring cycloplegic refraction were examined after installation of atropine 1 drop for 1 day and 3 drops for 3 days by autorefactometer and retinoscopy and results were compared to find out the difference in refractive error and the effect of cycloplegia on myopes and hyperopes. Results: It showed most of the patients have no difference in refractive error between first day of atropine instillation and after three days. Few patients show little difference of +/-0.25 D after three days. Hyperopic patients showed less difference in refractive error found between first and third day of atropine instillation as compared to myopic patients. Atropine is an efficient cycloplegic drug and we can get effective cycloplegia on first day with even one drop of atropine instillation. Conclusion: This may be beneficial for both the practitioner and child while doing cycloplegic refraction. It will greatly reduce the waiting time for parents and children, and will also lessen the adverse effects of atropine and allow for a better clinical service.

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