Tropicamide

Tropicamide, sold under the brand name Mydriacyl among others, is a medication used to dilate the pupil and help with the examination of the eye. Specifically it is used to help examine the back of the eye. It is applied as eye drops. Effects occur within 40 minutes and last for up to a day. Common side effects include blurry vision, increased intraocular pressure, and sensitivity to light. Another rare but severe side effect is psychosis, particularly in children. It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe for the fetus. Tropicamide is in the antimuscarinic part of the anticholinergic family of medications. It works by making the muscles within the eye unable to respond to nerve signals. Tropicamide was approved for medical use in the United States in 1960. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.