Comparative study between Monocular dynamic retinoscopy and retinoscopy under cycloplegia with 1% Tropicamide in childr en between 2 to 5 years old in Engativá, Bogotá

Abstract

The retinoscopy is one of the most precise methods for the objective determination of the refractive status in children. The technique of choice in these patients is the Merchan’s monocular dynamic retinoscopy wide used in our country since 1966 as a useful tool for the determination of the refraction in children, nevertheless, nowadays it is accepted that the refraction in the children who come for the first time to the optometric consultation is preferable under cycloplegia. Tropicamide is a short action cycloplegic agent that produces few adverse effects. The cycloplegic effects of the tropicamide have been discussed. Objective Identify if there was significant difference between the results of Merchan’s monocular dynamic retinoscopy and cycloplegic retinoscopy using 1% tropicamide in 20 children with ages between 2 and 5 years. Methods and Materials: children were selected of the gardens of the Colombian Institute of Family of Engativa of the city of Bogota, how followed certain criteria of incorporation. There were applied both techniques to the children, Merchan’s monocular dynamic retinoscopy and cycloplegic retinoscopy using 1% tropicamide. The statistical analysis were realized by t student test. Results The clinical and statistical analysis showed, there is not significant difference between the results of both retinoscopy techniques realized a value of 0.50 Diopters of difference. Conclusions tropicamide is a cycloplegic of slight action, short duration and assurance since it generated no adverse reactions neither to ocular neither level nor to systemic level in this patients and that its use is functional to realize the refraction in patients with good general health and low refractive error.