Cyclopentolate
Cyclopentolate is a short-acting eye drop that widens the pupil and relaxes the focusing muscle for eye examinations, sold here as 1% Cyclogyl in bottles.
What the drops do to the eye
Cyclopentolate is an anticholinergic: it blocks the nerve signals that keep two eye muscles working. One is the ring of muscle in the iris that narrows the pupil in bright light; the other is the ciliary muscle, which reshapes the lens so the eye can focus on something close. With those signals blocked, the pupil stays wide and the lens sits in its resting shape, so close print slips out of focus. The two effects are called mydriasis (a wide pupil) and cycloplegia (a lens that cannot focus up close).
What cyclopentolate is used for
Eye examinations are the main use. A wide, still pupil opens up the view of the retina and optic nerve at the back of the eye, and a lens that has stopped focusing lets an optometrist measure short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism properly. Children's eyes focus so strongly that the true prescription can hide until the muscle is relaxed, which is why the drops turn up so often in young patients. They are also used in inflammation of the iris and the uveal tract (the layer that includes the iris), where they hold the pupil open. This is a drop for one examination or a short course, not a long-term treatment.
How the drops are given
One drop goes into the eye roughly 40 minutes before the examination. If the pupil is still not wide enough, a second drop follows 15 minutes after the first. Full dilation arrives after about 30 to 60 minutes. The 1% solution suits children aged 6 to 16 and adults with deeply pigmented, dark brown eyes, because iris pigment holds on to the drug and needs more of it.
What to expect afterwards
Blurred near vision and a dislike of bright light are the two things people notice most, and both come from the drop doing its job. Sunglasses help outdoors, and it is best to let someone else drive: with the focusing muscle out of action, judging distance and reading a dashboard are unreliable. The pupil usually settles back to its normal size within about a day, and near focusing returns with it, though close work can stay a little soft for longer. A brief sting as the drop goes in is normal and fades in seconds.
Side effects and the bottle
Dry mouth, flushing, headache and a gritty or dry eye are the effects most often reported. Children occasionally become drowsy, restless or unusually talkative. Eye pain, a racing heartbeat or confusion are rare and need urgent attention. Cyclopentolate comes on PockDose as Cyclogyl, a 1% eye drop in bottles, and it sits in eye care alongside the other drops. Keep the cap screwed on and the bottle out of hot, sunny spots.
Sources
- Cyclopentolate Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Mydrilate 0.5% Eye Drops - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) — electronic medicines compendium (emc) / Esteve Pharmaceuticals
Where can I order Cyclopentolate for delivery in Hong Kong?
Cyclopentolate can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is generic Cyclogyl, also sold as Cyclopentolate bottles, at 1%. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
What is the price of Cyclopentolate?
It depends on the strength and pack size. The cyclopentolate product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Cyclopentolate?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order cyclopentolate. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for cyclopentolate?
Cyclogyl is a brand name of cyclopentolate. Here, cyclopentolate can be bought online as generic Cyclogyl. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does cyclopentolate last?
Most of the effect is gone within a day. The pupil is usually back to its normal size by the next morning, and the dazzle from bright light fades with it. Close reading returns once the focusing muscle recovers, although it can stay slightly blurred for longer.
Can I drive after cyclopentolate eye drops?
Wait until your sight is clear. With the focusing muscle switched off you cannot judge distance well or read the dashboard, and headlights and low sun dazzle through the wide pupil. Get a lift home from the appointment and bring sunglasses.
What does 1% cyclopentolate mean?
It is the concentration of the drop — how much cyclopentolate hydrochloride is dissolved in the liquid that carries it into the eye. The 1% bottle is the strength used when the pupil has to open wide and stay wide, which is why children and adults with dark brown eyes are usually given it.
Where should I keep cyclopentolate eye drops?
Stand the bottle upright with the cap tight, in a spot that stays cool and out of direct sun, and keep it out of children's reach. Check the date on the label before you use it again.
Is cyclopentolate the same as atropine?
Both widen the pupil and relax the focusing muscle, but atropine holds the eye that way for days rather than about a day. Cyclopentolate is the one chosen when the pupil only needs to stay wide long enough for an examination to be done.