A Cross-sectional Observational Study to Assess the Influence of 1% Cyclopentolate and 1% Tropicamide on Intraocular Pressure in Children Undergoing Cycloplegic Refraction at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India

Abstract

Introduction: Cycloplegic refraction is necessary in children due to their high amplitude of accommodation. A combination of Tropicamide and Cyclopentolate is commonly used as cycloplegics in children. These medications can cause a substantial elevation in Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in a few susceptible children. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the changes in IOP when 1% Cyclopentolate and 1% Tropicamide were used for cycloplegic refraction in children. Aim: To assess the influence of 1% Cyclopentolate eyedrops and 1% Tropicamide eyedrops on IOP in children undergoing cycloplegic refraction and to compare the changes in IOP between the hypermetropic and myopic groups before and after cycloplegia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Ophthalmology at KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belagavi, in Northern Karnataka, India over a duration of six months. The study included 55 children in the age group of 5-15 years who met the inclusion criteria. All children underwent visual acuity assessment and a detailed examination of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Refraction was expressed in terms of Spherical Equivalence (SE), calculated as sphere plus half of the cylinder. Based on the SE calculated after refraction, children were diagnosed as having either myopia or hypermetropia as types of refractive error. Data were analysed using International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics (Version 25.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Categorical variables were represented as frequency and percentages, while continuous variables were represented as Mean±Standard Deviation (SD). A p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of the 55 children included in the study, 25 children were hypermetropic, and 30 children were myopic based on the calculated SE. Among the total of 55 children, 34 were girls, and 21 were boys. The mean age of the 55 children was 10.98±2.4 years. The mean age of the myopic group was 11.97±2.21 years, while the hypermetropic group had a mean age of 9.74±3.29 years. The mean precycloplegic IOP was 14.21±2.76 mmHg, and the mean postcycloplegic IOP was 15.19±3.25 mmHg. The change in IOP was statistically significant (p≤0.0001). In the hypermetropic group of 25 children, the mean precycloplegic IOP was 13.74±2.55 mmHg, while the mean postcycloplegic IOP was 15.10±3.65 mmHg. There was a significant difference in IOP (p=0.0242). In the myopic group of 30, the mean precycloplegic IOP was 14.47±2.86 mmHg, while the postcycloplegic IOP was 15.08±2.86 mmHg. There was no statistically significant change in IOP in the myopic group (p=0.0669). After cycloplegic mydriasis, 2 eyes (3.7%) experienced an increase in IOP greater than 7 mmHg. Conclusion: Cycloplegic mydriasis using 1% Cyclopentolate and 0.8% Tropicamide caused a significant increase in IOP in a few children, with a higher increase observed in hypermetropic children compared to myopic children. Therefore, ophthalmologists should exercise caution and monitor IOP changes in children undergoing cycloplegic refraction to manage any transient rise in IOP and prevent damage to the optic nerve.