Which medication is described as a dilating drop?

Prepare for the Ophthalmic Medications Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to enhance your understanding. Gear up for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which medication is described as a dilating drop?

Explanation:
Pupillary dilation is achieved by drugs that either stimulate the iris dilator muscle or block the constrictor. Phenylephrine is an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist that directly stimulates the iris dilator muscle, causing the pupil to enlarge (mydriasis) with little effect on accommodation. That makes it a classic dilating drop used during eye exams to allow a full view of the retina. The other drugs don’t produce dilation: acetazolamide lowers intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous humor production; erythromycin is an antibiotic; netarsudil lowers intraocular pressure by increasing outflow but doesn’t dilate the pupil.

Pupillary dilation is achieved by drugs that either stimulate the iris dilator muscle or block the constrictor. Phenylephrine is an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist that directly stimulates the iris dilator muscle, causing the pupil to enlarge (mydriasis) with little effect on accommodation. That makes it a classic dilating drop used during eye exams to allow a full view of the retina.

The other drugs don’t produce dilation: acetazolamide lowers intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous humor production; erythromycin is an antibiotic; netarsudil lowers intraocular pressure by increasing outflow but doesn’t dilate the pupil.

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