This study aims to compare the efficacy of conventional cycloplegic agents, such as cyclopentolate, with rapid-onset cycloplegics, like a combination of tropicamide and phenylephrine, in reducing patient anxiety and discomfort during cycloplegic refraction. Cycloplegic refraction is an essential procedure for diagnosing refractive errors, particularly in children, by temporarily paralyzing the ciliary muscle to inhibit accommodation. While cyclopentolate has a relatively quick onset, tropicamide is preferred due to its faster onset and shorter duration. Despite its advantages, concerns about patient discomfort and anxiety during the procedure remain, especially in pediatric populations.
The study will involve participants aged 3-16 years, with no significant refractive error or ocular pathologies. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either cyclopentolate or tropicamide with phenylephrine. The primary outcomes include patient comfort, anxiety levels, satisfaction, and procedure time. Discomfort and anxiety will be measured using questionnaires such as the Visual Analog Scale for Comfort and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The study will help determine if rapid-onset cycloplegic provide a better patient experience by reducing discomfort and anxiety. By evaluating these factors, the research seeks to improve clinical practices in optometry and ophthalmology, particularly in pediatric eye examinations.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
74
Rapid-Onset Cycloplegic Drops (e.g., tropicamide with phenylephrine) to assess patient comfort, anxiety, and satisfaction with quicker onset and shorter duration.
Conventional Cycloplegic Drops (e.g., cyclopentolate) to provide a baseline for comparison with the rapid-onset treatment.
Al Shifa trust eye Hospital
Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score is a pain measurement tool where patients mark a point on a 10 cm line representing their pain intensity, with the distance from "no pain" measured in millimeters (0-100), indicating pain intensity
Time frame: 12 Months
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a 40-item self-report questionnaire measuring anxiety, divided into 20 items for state anxiety (how one feels now) and 20 for trait anxiety (how one generally feels). Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety
Time frame: 12 Months
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