ABSTRACT
Cyclopentolate is a parasympatholytic anticholinergic drug. Administered in the eye, cyclopentolate blocks the acetylcholine receptor in the sphincter muscle of the iris and the ciliary muscle, thereby preventing contraction. Cyclopentolate acts more quickly than atropine and has a shorter duration of action. A 49-year-old man presented with a few months’ history of severe relapses of erythema, edema, itching and burning of both eyes, eyelids and upper cheeks. The patient was under ophthalmological investigation for progressive loss of sight. Before each examination, at home he applied one eye drop containing cyclopentolate in each eye, every 15 minutes for one hour. Patch tests gave positive reactions to cyclopentolate hydrochloride 0.5% and 0.1% water and to phenylephrine 1% water. Control tests in 20 healthy individuals with the same solutions were negative.
