Refraction of 1-year-old children after cycloplegia with 1% cyclopentolate: comparison with findings after atropinisation.

Cyclopentolate 1% is significantly less effective than atropine 1% at producing cycloplegia in 1-year-old children. If cycloplegic refraction is to be used for investigation or screening children for visual defects during the sensitive period, the more prolonged and profound cycloplegia following atropine could potentially have a disastrous effect on the development of vision. Cyclopentolate 1% would have to be used, and allowance made for its inadequacy as a cycloplegic.