Status of cyclopentolate as a cycloplegic in children: a comparison with atropine and homatropine.

We compared the cycloplegic effects of cyclopentolate, homatropine and atropine by the retinoscopy findings and residual accommodation left following their use in the same individual. The mean residual accommodation measured after the use of cyclopentolate, homatropine and atropine was 1.48 +/- 0.33 D, 2.32 +/- 0.37 D and 1.10 D +/- 0.28 D, respectively, and the mean difference in retinoscopy readings between cyclopentolate and homatropine, homatropine and atropine, and atropine and cyclopentolate was 0.46 +/- 0.21, 0.71 +/- 0.23 and 0.26 +/- 0.14, respectively. We further observed that a tonus allowance of about +0.75 D would suffice for cyclopentolate. The merits for recommending cyclopentolate as a routine cycloplegic in children are discussed.