Mist delivery of eye medication to the anterior segment.

Abstract

To compare the mydriatic efficacies of mist and drop delivery of tropicamide 1.0%. Randomized, masked, active, controlled clinical trial. One hundred subjects were randomized to receive small-volume (6 microl) mist administration of tropicamide 1.0% in one eye and either nothing or a conventional drop (30 microl) of the same solution in the fellow eye. Comparing misted eyes with untreated eyes in the same subjects, the mean maximal increase in pupil diameter in the misted eyes was 2.02 mm and was 0.25 mm in the fellow eyes. The difference is statistically significant (P <or= .001) Comparing mist-treated eyes with drop-treated eyes in the same subjects, the mean maximal increase in pupil diameter in the misted eyes was 1.98 mm and was 2.11 mm in the drop-treated eyes. The difference was not statistically significant (P = .051). Small-volume mist and conventional drop delivery of tropicamide 1.0% were shown to be similar in mydriatic effectiveness.