Effects of topical anesthetics on phenylephrine-induced mydriasis.

Pupil responses to phenylephrine alone and to phenylephrine preceded by a topical anesthetic were recorded by means of an infrared pupillometer. In response to phenylephrine, pupils dilated more in eyes with pale irides. Dilation was greater if a topical anesthetic was applied before the mydriatic. Benoxinate, proparacaine, and tetracaine produced approximately equal degrees of enhancement of the mydriasis. One drop of 1% phenylephrine had only a small dilating effect on an eye when the fellow eye received the phenylephrine preceded by 0.5% proparacaine.