Evaluation of the effects of different mydriatic drops used on choroidal vascularity in healthy children.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of mydriatics drops used primarily in routine eye examinations on the choroid tissue, which has a dense vascular network in the eye.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 90 eyes of 90 healthy children. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were obtained for all children before dilation. They were randomly divided into two groups (46/44). The tropicamide group received 0.5% tropicamide and the phenylephrine group received 2.5% phenylephrine. After dilation, a second OCT image was obtained for all children.

Results: Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCFT) values ​​decreased significantly after dilation in the phenylephrine and tropicamide drop groups compared to pre-dilation measurements (p=0.001 for both). No significant difference was observed in the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) values ​​measured before and after dilation in either group (p=0.059, p=0.245).

Conclusion: While 2.5% phenylephrine and 0.5% tropicamide caused a decrease in SCFT values ​​after dilatation, there was no significant difference in CVI values. These results emphasize that when examining choroidal thickness and vascularity in individuals with chorioretinal disease, the selection of mydriatic agent should be taken into consideration, especially in choroidal thickness.