title: Cycloplegic refraction using atropine minidrops.
abstract: Topical application of atropine for cycloplegic refraction may be associated with alarming systemic reactions in infants and children. Cycloplegic refraction and pulse rate were compared after short-term minidrop application of atropine with a calibrated pipette (3 × 5 μl) and standard atropine application from commercial bottles (twice daily 30-36 μ1 for three days) in 30 hypermetropic eyes of children between 1 and 7 years of age. The mean spherical equivalents of cycloplegic refraction achieved after minidrop application was 0.23 D lower than that following standard application. In many cases, there was a substantial increase in pulse rate 90 minutes after atropine instillation, both from minidrops and from commercial bottles. Short-term minidrop application of atropine with a calibrated pipette may be used for cycloplegic refraction in infants and children if one wishes to reduce the total atropine dose.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Hospital, Klinikum Steglitz, Hindenburgdamm 30, W-1000, Berlin 45, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Noske