The effects of tropicamide and cyclopentolate hydrochloride on laser flare meter measurements in uveitis patients: a comparative study

Purpose To investigate the effects of 1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride and 1% tropicamide eye drops on aqueous flare measurements by using the laser flare meter. Methods One hundred forty eight eyes of 83 patients with inactive uveitis were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1% tropicamide (Group 1) or 1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride (Group 2) as the mydriatic agent. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), aqueous flare reaction levels measured by laser flare meter device (FM 600, Kowa, Kowa Company Ltd, Nagoya, Japan) before and post dilatation agents were evaluated. Results Group 1 consisted of 75 eyes and Group 2 consisted of 77 eyes. The mean age of Group 1 patients was 34.85 ± 12.60 (range, 12–64) years; the mean age of Group 2 was 36.92 ± 13.30 (range, 12–70) years ( p > 0.05). The mean BCVAs of two groups were 0.16 ± 0.43 (range, 0.00–3.10) logMAR and 0.17 ± 0.42 (range, 0.00–3.10) logMAR, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between Groups 1 and 2 regarding gender or clinical characteristics ( p > 0.05). No significant differences were detected in pre- or post-dilatation values between two groups ( p = 0.470, p = 0.998). Conclusions As a result, anterior chamber flare values in uveitis patients do not differ significantly between 1% tropicamide and 1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride, and both agents can be safely used for dilatation during examination of patients with uveitis.