Atropine eye drops

About atropine eye drops

Atropine makes the pupil of your eye larger and relaxes the muscles in your eye. These things make it easier for your eye to be examined and your vision tested. It is commonly prescribed for young children who need eye tests.

Atropine drops can also be prescribed during the treatment of a condition called anterior uveitis. This is a painful eye condition caused by inflammation within the eye. By making your pupil larger and relaxing the muscles in your eye, it reduces pain and allows the inflamed part of your eye to rest and recover.

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, before you use the drops it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to any eye drops.

• If you normally wear contact lenses.

• If you have been told you have a higher than normal pressure in your eye, or if you have glaucoma.

• If you are taking or using any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Atropine eye drops will generally be administered for you, but if you are asked to put the drops in yourself, then:

1. Wash your hands well before you use the drops.

2. Remove the cap (or twist off the tip of the unit if you are using a Minims® single-dose unit).

3. Tilt your head back a little and pull the lower lid of your eye out to form a pocket.

4. Hold the bottle (or single-dose unit) upside down near to your eye. Try not to touch your eye as you do this.

5. Apply enough pressure to the container to release one drop into your eye. Only use a second drop if the first drop missed going into your eye.

6. Close your eye for a minute or two, and press gently on the side of your nose where the corner of your eye meets your nose. This helps to stop the drop from draining away and keeps it in your eye.

7. Repeat the process in your other eye if you have been told to use the drops in both eyes. (The contents of one single-dose Minims® are enough for both eyes.)

8. Replace the cap (or if you are using the single-dose unit, throw it away).

• Before you start using the eye drops, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from the pack. It will give you more information about the drops and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from using them.

• Take care not to touch your eye, fingers, or any other surface with the dropper of the bottle. This could infect the liquid left in the bottle.

• Atropine will cause blurred vision which may last for some time. Make sure you can see clearly again before you drive and before you use tools or machines.

• If you are using any other eye drops or ointments, leave about ten minutes between applying each one. This is to prevent more liquid going into your eye than it can handle. Otherwise the drops will overflow from your eye and may not have the intended effect.

• If you normally wear contact lenses, do not wear them again until your doctor advises you do so. There are two reasons for this - using atropine will mean you are not able to see clearly, and also bottles of eye drops contain a preservative which can affect soft contact lenses.

Along with their useful effects, eye drops can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains the most common ones associated with atropine eye drops. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your drops. Unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to a new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

• Eye drops only keep for four weeks once the bottle has been opened so throw away the bottle after this time, even if there is some solution left. Never keep opened bottles of eye drops to use later. This will help to prevent the risk of eye infections.

• Minims® contain one dose of atropine only. Do not store or re-use opened units to use at a later time.