Atropine is a medicine that is used in the eyes to dilate (open) the pupils. It also relaxes the muscles that focus the eyes: This allowthe doctor to look at the retina, optic nerve, and other structures inside the eye that cannot be seen well until the pupil is dilated. This also allows measurements to be taken to decide if your child needs glasses and what strength they should be.
How to Use the Medicine
The medicine will come as eye drops in a small bottle.
Wash your hands before opening the tube or the bottle of medicine.
Pull the lower eyelid down and put one drop into the space between the eyelid and the eyeball.
Alternatively the child may lie down with eyes closed, put one drop in the “corner” of the closed eye. Then ask your child to open their eye, the drops will go in.
After you put the medicine in your child’s eyes, wash your hands again.
The medicine should be put into each eye 2 times a day starting 5 days before your scheduled eye exam.
Do not use the medicine on the morning of the exam.
Special Precautions
If you use more of the medicine than is needed, your child’s face may look flushed or feel warm. This most often does not mean that your child is allergic to the medicine, but it means too much was used. If using eye drops, be sure to use only one drop in the eye.
While your child’ s eyes are dilated, no special”safety measures need to be taken. Your child may be a little light sensitive. Light will not damage or hurt the eyes, but you may find that your child squints more in the sunlight. Your child may be more at ease with sunglasses or a hat with a visor. Sometimes, eye muscle control may seem worse while the pupils are dilated. This will go back to normal after the drops wear off. Your child may still swim, run, and play during this time. Please not he/she may complain of trouble reading or with near tasks as accommodation is temporarily paralyzed. This is only temporary and will return to normal after 10-14 days.
If any of the drops stay on your hands after you handle the bottle, and you rub your own eye, your pupil may dilate and your vision may become somewhat blurry. This is the reason you should wash your own hands well after you put the medicine in your child’s eye.
Store this medicine in a safe place that is out of the reach of children.
