Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate cycloplegic effects of cyclopentolate and atropine in hyperopic children and compare their side effects. Find correlation between increasing age & change in difference in cycloplegic refraction with both drugs. METHOD: Crossover study of 100 patients with hyperopia without strabismus between ages 3-8 years. We compared the retinoscopic refraction after both cyclopentolate and atropine. RESULTS: No significant difference in cycloplegic refraction between atropine and cyclopentolate in children with hypermetropia from 3-8 years of age. Atropine had significant side effects compared to cyclopentolate. Differences between atropine and cyclopentolate refraction varied from 0.25 D to 1D. Maximum difference was seen with patients having greater degree of hypermetropia. In addition, we observed that with increasing age the difference in cycloplegic refraction between atropine and cyclopentolate reduced suggestive of a decrease in accommodation with age.