Effects of mydriatics on intraocular pressure and pupil size in the normal feline eye

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of various mydriatics (1% atropine, 1% cyclopentolate, 0.5% tropicamide, 10% phenylephrine) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil size (PS) in normal cats. ANIMALS STUDIED: The mydriatics were tested in 10 adult ophthalmoscopically normal European Domestic Short-haired cats. Procedure Single-dose drug studies were divided into placebo (vehicle of phenylephrine), 10% phenylephrine, 0.5% tropicamide, 1% cyclopentolate and 1% atropine. After measurement of IOP and pupil size (PS) at 8 a.m. on the first day, one drop of the tested drug was applied to one randomly selected eye. The IOP and PS were measured for a minimum of 36 h until the pupil returned to pretest size. RESULTS: Ten per cent phenylephrine had no significant effect on IOP, and the effect on the pupil size was minimal (