Cyclopentolate eye drops are very commonly used.

They allow your child’s Optometrist to obtain a more accurate measure of the focussing power of your child’s eyes by relaxing their ability to focus on objects up close. They also make the pupils wider.

The drops take around 30 minutes to work and effects can last up to 24 hours.

It is recommended that your child does not undertake hazardous activities such as cycling until their vision has returned to normal.

The drops make your child’s eyes more sensitive to bright lights. Their up-close vision and sometimes distance vision will appear blurry, so they may struggle to see schoolwork clearly for example. Up-close vision should return to normal after around 1-2 hours.

In the unlikely event that your child experiences any unusual symptoms, please contact your Optometrist as a matter of urgency or present at Accident and Emergency as this may mean they are experiencing an adverse reaction to the drops. Unusual symptoms can include:

Pain and redness in or around the eyes

Feeling disorientated

Incoherent speech

Visual disturbances

Racing pulse or palpitations