Tropicamide as a Cycloplegic Agent

The importance of cycloplegia in refraction is attested to by the continuing search for the ideal cycloplegic drug. This ideal drug should provide (1) maximum relaxation of accommodation; (2) satisfactory mydriasis; (3) rapid onset of action and rapid attainment of maximum effect; (4) short duration and rapid recovery; (5) consistency in its effectiveness; (6) freedom from toxicity, irritation, or sensitivity. For many decades, homatropine was the drug of choice for cycloplegia in refraction. Several newer drugs have far surpassed homatropine in all of the above qualifications except one. Unfortunately that one is the first and most important of all—maximum cycloplegic effect¹! The search goes on. Recently, tropicamide * has claimed the attention of investigators and clinicians. Tropicamide is a parasympatholytic drug (N-ethyl-2-phenyl-N-(4-pyridylmethyl)hydracrylamide). It was introduced on the European continent, and has been reported on recently in the American literature.^2,3Merrill et al.,²in a study of 262 patients