The Effect of Cycloplegia on Vision and Stereopsis: Comparison between before and after Cycloplegia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSES: To evaluate the effect of cycloplegia on the visual acuity and stereopsis according to the refraction and age. METHODS: This study included 112 eyes of 56 patients, which were divided into three groups according to the refraction. The best corrected visual acuity and stereopsis were compared between without and with cycloplegia in all groups according to age. RESULTS: After cycloplegia, at near, naked visual acuity decreased in 0.53 logMAR, average and stereopsis also deceased from 93 seconds to 343 seconds. At far, the naked and best corrected visual acuity had less decreased than near visual acuity. At near, there was no significant difference on the degree of decreased visual acuity and stereopsis according to refraction, but in emmetropic patients, the visual acuity at near significantly decreased. Patients younger than ten years old had more decreased visual acuity at near compared with older than forty-five years old. CONCLUSIONS: After pupil dilatation, there significant decreased near visual acuity and stereopsis, there was little change at far. The degree of decreased vision was different according to the refraction and age, therefore it would be helpful to explain the anticipating result.