Definition

1. Noun:
   • A substance used in medicine to cause dilation (widening) of the pupil of the eye: A mydriatic drug is a type of medication specifically applied to the eye to make the pupil larger. This is primarily done to allow a doctor to better examine the interior structures of the eye, such as the retina and optic nerve, during an ophthalmologic examination.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The optometrist administered a mydriatic drug before performing the retinal exam.
  • After the mydriatic drug took effect, her pupils were very large and sensitive to light.
  • Common mydriatic drugs include tropicamide and phenylephrine.

Advanced Usage

• Therapeutic vs. Diagnostic Use: While primarily diagnostic, some mydriatic drugs may also be used therapeutically in certain inflammatory eye conditions to prevent complications.
  • In addition to aiding examination, the mydriatic drug helped prevent synechiae formation in her uveitis.

Variants and Related Words

• Mydriatic (adjective/noun): Pertaining to or being a substance that causes pupil dilation. It can be used as an adjective ("mydriatic effect") or as a noun synonym for "mydriatic drug."
  • The mydriatic agent was effective.
• Mydriasis (noun): The condition of having a dilated pupil.
  • The examination required the induction of mydriasis.

Synonyms

• Mydriatic agent: A direct synonym.
• Pupil-dilating drug: A descriptive synonym.
• Cycloplegic drug: A related but more specific term for drugs that also paralyze the eye's focusing muscle (cycloplegia), in addition to causing mydriasis. Not all mydriatics are cycloplegics.

Antonyms

• Miotic drug: A drug that causes constriction (shrinking) of the pupil.

Related Phrases

• Induce mydriasis: To cause pupil dilation.
  • The drops are used to induce mydriasis for a thorough funduscopic exam.
• Mydriatic eye drops: The common form of administration for these drugs.
  • You will need to wait for the mydriatic eye drops to wear off before driving.

Noun

1. a drug that causes the pupil of the eye to dilate; used to aid eye examinations