Meds: A - E

Atropine Ophthalmic Ointment / Solution

Related Services

(EH-tro-peen)

What is atropine ophthalmic ointment/solution?

Atropine ophthalmic ointment or solution (Isopto", Atropisol", Ocu-Tropine") is a medication that causes the pupils to enlarge and relaxes the focusing power of the eye. It is most often used prior to an eye exam or procedure. It comes as a 1% eye ointment, and a 1% eye-drop solution.

Special instructions

This medication is for the eyes only.
Wash your hands and your child's hands before and after giving medication. This medication should not be swallowed.
Do not touch the tip of the tube/bottle to the eye, lid or any surface. This may contaminate the medication.
Use only as directed by your child's physician.
Do not use after expiration date on the bottle/package.
If too much medication is taken by accident, call the Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC), 513-696-5111 or 1-800-222-1222, or call your child's doctor immediately.
Keep this medication out of the reach of children.

Administering the medication

Remove contact lenses before using this medication. Lenses may be replaced 15 minutes after giving medication, if there is no eye irritation.
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Have your child sit with his/her head back and look up, or have him/her lie down and look up.
For the ointment:
a. Gently pull the lower eyelid down with your forefinger and have your child look up toward the ceiling.
b. Squeeze a small amount of the ointment ¼ to ½ inch inside the lower eyelid, moving from the inside near the tear duct to the outer side of the eye. Have your child close his/her eyes for 1-2 minutes.
c. After the child blinks several times, there will be ointment on the lashes and eyelid. Wipe off this excess ointment with a tissue and discard into the toilet. Wipe from the inside to the outer side of the eye.
For the solution:
a. Have your child tilt his/her head back and look up. Drop medication into the eye.
b. Keep eyes closed and apply pressure to inside corner of eye for 3 minutes. This is to keep the medicine in the eye.
Wash your hands after giving the medication.
If your child is getting more than one kind of eye medication, wait 5-10 minutes between medications. Give the drops before the ointment.
If your child will not open his/her eyes and you cannot open them yourself, try these alternate methods for applying the medication.
a. Apply some of the ointment along the edge of the eyelids. Put your child on his/her back and wait for the medication to melt and run into the eye. This will take about five minutes. Wipe away excess ointment with a tissue.
b. You may also try giving the medication while your child is asleep. Many children will not wake up during this type of application as it does not sting.
c. Have someone else hold him/her while you apply the medication.

If a dose is missed

For any medication information related to your child's dosing schedule and/or missed doses, contact the healthcare provider who prescribed the medication.

Side effects

Contact your child's doctor is these symptoms persist or become bothersome:

Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light

Warning signs

Occasionally, a child may experience a reaction to atropine. This is seen by a red or pink-flushed face and a mild fever. If this occurs, do not be alarmed; the flushed face and fever should go away. However, do not apply the next scheduled dose. If the reaction has not gone away within two hours, call your child's doctor. In an emergency, consult your child's doctor or an emergency room.

Additional information

If your child is in school, the teacher should be notified that the child is receiving this eye medication and that it might interfere with his/her vision, particularly for close work or reading. Following the use of atropine, the child's pupils may remain enlarged for up to two weeks.