Prior topical anesthesia reduces time to full cycloplegia in Chinese

Purpose: To investigate the effect of prior anesthesia on the time to full cycloplegia in young Chinese subjects. Methods: The amplitude of accommodation was monitored over a 50-minute inte rval after the application of 1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride with a pretre atment of 0.4% benoxinate (oxybuprocaine) or 0.9% saline solution (control) . Using a nonlinear mathematical model, the rate of accommodative loss (k) and the time required for 95% of total cycloplegia (T-95%) were determined. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significantly faster rate of accom modative loss (P < .0001) after prior anesthesia (0.129 +/- 0.05) compared with the controls (0.103 +/- 0.04). T-95% was noted at 26.43 +/- 10.22 minu tes after prior anesthesia, which was significantly shorter (P < .0001) tha n that after the saline treatment (35.28 +/- 16.51 minutes). Conclusions: Prior application of topical anesthetic can shorten the time t o full cycloplegia for people, such as the Chinese, with dark hides. (C) 19 99 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.