What are cycloplegics?
Cycloplegics are medicines, usually in the form of eye drops that cause cycloplegia, which is the paralysis of the ciliary muscle in the eye. This stops the accommodation of the eye, which focuses on vision at different distances. There are a number of drugs that are cycloplegics including atropine, homatropin, cyclopentolate and tropicamide, all of which differ slightly in the efficiency, onset and duration of the effect. According to the manufacturer, they are available in most countries only on prescription and trade names may vary from country to ground.
The mechanism of the effect of cycloplegics is to block their effect on muscarinic receptors in the eye. These receptors are involved in the effect of the eye muscle, so that the cycloplegics prevent the muscles from moving. This not only causes cycloplegia, but also mydriasi, which is a pupil's dilation. Different cycloplegics have different efficiency with regard to cycloplegia and mydriasi.
Choled, which is used of cycloplegics, will be made by a doctor, according to the indication for which it is used. Most commonly usedto facilitate the eye examination. They can also be used to treat uveitis, swelling or inflammatory condition of the eye and to prepare an eye for ophthalmic surgery.
Atropine, homatropin, cyclopentolate and tropicamide have a slightly different onset of action and their duration of effect, both on the pupil and on the ciliary muscle. The attending physician prescribes the most suitable agent in case. In the case of atropine, the common dose regimen for acute inflammatory conditions of the instillation is three times a day and for preparation before the procedure, drops can be administered less often for several days. The prescribed dose should never be exceeded.
As with any drugs, cycloplegics can cause side effects. These are mainly local effects, due to the current nature of eye drops, but also reported systemic effects. Local side effects that have been reported include irritation or burning of the eyes and allergic conjunctivitisa. System effects may include flushing, increased heart rhythm and confusion.
As with any drugs, cycloplegics can interact with others, including prescribed, over -the -counter, homeopathic and supplementary drugs, so they should be communicated to the prescribed physician. Cycloplegics can be contraindicated in people with some basic clinical conditions, so they should also be discussed with a doctor. They can increase intraocular pressure so that it can be contraindicated in patients with glaucoma.