Atropine Eye Drop

What is this medication for?

Atropine relaxes the eye muscles, and temporarily dilates the pupil of the eye to make it bigger. Your doctor may prescribe atropine eye drop for use before an eye examination. 

Another use of atropine eye drop is to slow down the progression of myopia in children and teenagers. Myopia, commonly known as near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is a condition where a person can see near objects well (e.g. when reading a book or working on the computer) but has difficulty in seeing objects that are far away (e.g. road signs or bus numbers). Usually a low dose of atropine (0.01% to 0.10%) will be prescribed first. If the dose is not effective in slowing down short-sightedness, a higher dose of atropine (0.5% to 1.0%) may be prescribed.

 Atropine eye drop may also be used to treat eye pain and inflammation, as well as other indications as prescribed by your doctor. 

How should I take or use this medication?

• Proper use of eye drop
  • Wash your hands with soap and water, and read the instructions on the label
  • While seated, tilt your head backwards and look up. You may also lie down
  • Using your index finger, gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a pocket and instil one drop into the eye. Make sure the tip does not touch the eye or any other surface to avoid contamination
  • Wipe off any excess eye drops with a clean tissue. Do not squeeze your eye
  • Keep your eyes closed and press down gently on the inner corner of your eye for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed
• For more details on how to apply eye drops, click on this link for a step-by-step guide: A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Instil Eye Drops
• Do not stop using your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to use a dose, use it as soon as you remember if it is not close to the next dose. Otherwise, you should skip the dose and use the next dose at the usual time. Do not use two doses together to make up for the missed dose. 

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if: 

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies
• You have history of closed angle or narrow angle glaucoma (This is a condition where the fluid drainage structure inside the eye gets blocked. This results in fluid buildup and increased eye pressure that damages the eye nerves.)
• You are using any other eye preparations 

If you have any question about this medication, please discuss with your healthcare professional.

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

• Eye stinging or burning sensation
• Eye redness
• Glare or Sensitivity to bright light
  • Tinted glasses, sunglasses or hats may be used to reduce glare
• Blurring of near vision
  • Do not drive or engage in any activities that require concentration (e.g. operating machinery)
  • For children using atropine to control myopia, your doctor may recommend a progressive or reading add in their glasses.

Side effects such as glare or blurring of near vision are less likely to occur with low-dose atropine. 

These symptoms are usually mild and will subside after some time. Check with your healthcare professional if these conditions are severe or do not improve.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

More serious side effects which may indicate an overdose of atropine include:

• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Flushing
• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Feeling irritable
• Confusion
• High fever

These side effects are very rare and mostly occur when eye drop is used improperly (e.g. swallowing of atropine resulting in over-dosage or poisoning). Instilling the eye drop in a proper way will keep such risks to a minimum.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following: 

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes around your eyes or over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely? ​

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin. 

When should i throw away this medication? 

Discard this medication 1 month after opening or as instructed on your medication label.