Paremyd vs 1% Tropicamide/2.5% Phenylephrine.

Background: As the scope of optometry expands to cover not only diagnosis, but treatment as well, more optometrists will dilate pupils regularly, although inconveniencing their patients .
This article compares two mydriatic regimens: 2.5% phenylephrine/1.0% tropicamide and 1.0% hydroxyamphetamine/0.25% tropicamide. The onset and amount of maximal dilation, the patient's subjective evaluation of cycloplegic and photosensitivity inconvenience, and the clinician's subjective evaluation of ease of ophthalmoscopy were assessed.
Methods: one hundred forty subjects were dilated with phenylephrine/tropicamide or hydroxyamphetamine/tropicamide randomly. Mydriatic and cycloplegic effects were measured. Patients were later surveyed regarding their subjective evaluation.
Results: The onset and amount of mydriasis, as well as photosensitivity, were similar between the two regimens. Hydroxyamphetamine/tropicamide had less effect on cycloplegia than phenylephrine/tropicamide both objectively and subjectively. The clinicians noted some differences in the ease of ophthalmoscopy.
Conclusions: Pupillary dilation can be achieved by a variety of mydriatic regimens. Hydroxyamphetamine/tropicamide and phenylephrine/tropicamide have their advantages and disadvantages. In the future, a balance may be achieved to allow the clinician thorough eye examination while minimizing patient inconvenience.