EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MYDRIATIC DROPS USED ON CHOROIDAL VASCULARITY IN HEALTHY CHILDREN.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of mydriatics drops used primarily in routine eye examinations on the choroid tissue, which has a dense vascular network in the eye.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included 90 eyes of 90 healthy children. Optical coherence tomography images were obtained for all children before dilation. They were randomly divided into two groups (46/44). The tropicamide group received 0.5% tropicamide, and the phenylephrine group received 2.5% phenylephrine. After dilation, a second optical coherence tomography image was obtained for all children.

RESULTS

Subfoveal choroidal thickness values decreased significantly after dilation in the phenylephrine and tropicamide drop groups compared with predilation measurements ( P = 0.001 for both). No significant difference was observed in the choroidal vascularity index values measured before and after dilation in either group ( P = 0.059, P = 0.245).

CONCLUSION

While 2.5% phenylephrine and 0.5% tropicamide caused a decrease in subfoveal choroidal thickness values after dilatation, there was no significant difference in choroidal vascularity index values. These results emphasize that when examining choroidal thickness and vascularity in individuals with chorioretinal disease, the selection of mydriatic agent should be taken into consideration, especially in choroidal thickness.