Indications
Mydrimide sterile eye drops are used to dilate (widen) the pupil so that the doctor can see into the back of the eye. They are used before eye examinations, such as cycloplegic refraction and examination of the fundus (the back of the eye). Mydrimide eye drops may also be used before and after eye surgery.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Tropicamide is somewhat related in structure to atropine, and it causes the pupil to widen (mydriasis) and stops the eye from focusing up close (cycloplegia) by paralysing the parasympathetic system. It works as a parasympatholytic, meaning it blocks the parasympathetic nervous system from working. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that normally acts at these receptor sites. Tropicamide competes with acetylcholine for the receptor sites and so blocks its action. The result is mydriasis, because the dilator pupillae is left unopposed, along with cycloplegia.
Tropicamide makes the pupil visibly larger about 5 minutes after it is put in. The pupil reaches its widest point after 20 to 25 minutes and returns to its normal size in roughly 6 hours. The effect starts quickly but wears off 45 to 60 minutes after the last drop. So the best time to do retinoscopy is about 20 minutes after the last drop goes in.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy Category C. Tropicamide should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed. Whether it passes into human breast milk is not known, so caution is advised when it is used by a breastfeeding woman, since many drugs do pass into breast milk.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.
Side Effects & Interactions
Side Effects
No side-effect data recorded yet.