Page 117 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition July-August 2021

THE DRUG ATROPINE
IS USEFUL IN ACUTE
INFLAMMATIONS. IT
SHOULD ONLY BE
USED IN CHILDREN
(OINTMENT ONLY)
AND IN CASES WHERE
COMPLETE PARALYSIS
OF THE IRIS SPHINCTER
AND CILIARY MUSCLE
IS DESIRED

SLIT LAMP EXAMINATION

adults and for diagnostic examination of the
Atropine: This drug is widely used in fundus. Its action is similar to that of atropine.
ophthalmology and is generally used as atropine Maximum mydriasis is produced in 10-30
sulphate in concentration of 1% strength as minutes and lasts for 6 hours to several days
solution, ointment or lamella. When applied while the cycloplegic action takes 30-90 minutes
to the conjunctival sac its maximum mydriatic and lasts for 10-40 hours.
action takes 30-40 minutes and lasts for
10-12 days and the cycloplegic action takes Hyoscine (Scopolamine): It produces
several hours and lasts for about 2 weeks. It the same effect as atropine, i.e., it produces
paralyses the sphincter muscle of the iris and mydriasis and paralysis of ciliary muscles. It
ciliary muscle. Large doses of atropine cause may be used as 0.5% solution. Its effects last for
immobilisation of the ciliary muscle and iris several days. Care must be taken in its prolonged
ensuring rest in an inflamed eye. The drug use because it is likely to produce hallucinations
is therefore useful in acute inflammations. and psychic disturbances.
Atropine causes a rise of intraocular pressure,
probably due to blockage of filtration angle in
the anterior chamber of the eye by the iris. The EYE
action is almost insignificant in a normal eye RUBBING
but if intraocular pressure is already high then
atropine will raise it more and may produce
an acute attack. This drug should only be
used in children (ointment only) and in cases
where complete paralysis of the iris sphincter
and ciliary muscle is desired like in some
inflammatory conditions of the eye. Eg. uveitis,
iridocyclitis, endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis,
cycloplegic refraction etc.
Homatropine: It is a synthetic compound
closely allied to atropine in chemical structure
and is used as homatropine hydrobromide in 1 to
2% solution. Its action is short-lived which makes
it an excellent drug to be used for refraction in

113 | CLINICAL