After the nurse instills atropine drops into both eyes for a client undergoing ophthalmic examination, which of the following instructions would be given to the client?
A. “Be careful because the blink reflex is paralyzed.”
B. “Avoid wearing your regular glasses when driving.”
C. “Be aware that the pupils may be unusually small.”
D. “Wear dark glasses in bright light because the pupils are dilated.”
Correct Answer: D. “Wear dark glasses in bright light because the pupils are dilated.”
Atropine, an anticholinergic drug, has mydriatic effects causing pupil dilation. This allows more light onto the retina and may cause photophobia and blurred vision. Atropine causes the muscles in the eye to become relaxed. This widens (dilates) the pupil so that it will not respond to light.
Option A: Atropine doesn’t paralyze the blink reflex. Atropine ophthalmic (for the eye) is used to dilate the pupils when there is an inflammatory condition or in postsurgery situations in which this effect may be helpful.
Option B: Driving may be contraindicated to blurred vision. Atropine ophthalmic may make the eyes more sensitive to light. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes whenever outdoors or in bright light. Do not use atropine eye drops while wearing contact lenses. The medicine may contain a preservative that can discolor soft contact lenses. Wait at least 15 minutes after using the eye drops before putting in contact lenses.
Option C: Atropine doesn’t cause miosis (pupil constriction). Atropine ophthalmic is also used in people with a condition called amblyopia (sometimes called “lazy eye”). Atropine ophthalmic can be placed into the stronger eye to temporarily blur the vision in that eye. This helps strengthen the weaker eye because the brain will force that eye to work harder to focus.
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