You are reading the consent information for an eye exam and see that you will be given eye drops that cause cycloplegia.What is the most likely active substance in the eye drops?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atropine is the most commonly used active substance in eye drops that cause cycloplegia. This is because it blocks the actions of the ciliary muscle in the eye, resulting in paralysis of the muscles that control the shape of the lens. This allows for more accurate measurements of refractive errors during an eye exam. Tetracaine and phenylephrine are local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors, respectively, that are sometimes used in eye drops for other purposes, such as reducing pain or inflammation. Brimonidine is an alpha-2 agonist that is used to treat glaucoma and other conditions, but it does not cause cycloplegia.

You Are Reading the Consent Information for an Eye Exam