Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Ocular Therapeutic Delivery and Advanced Tissue Retrieval in Adult Rats
Published on: May 23, 2025
Mydriasis induced by sub-Tenon's ropivacaine injection in patients undergoing strabismus surgery
Gustavo Savino1, Vittoria Perrotta, Daniela Colucci
1Institute of Ophthalmology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Purpose:
To investigate the effects of sub-Tenon's capsule ropivacaine injection on pupillary diameter in strabismus surgery.
Methods:
A total of 16 patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The ropivacaine group (R) received sub-Tenon's ropivacaine 1% (2.5-3 mL) injections. In the control group (C), general anesthesia was induced and a saline solution (2.5-3 mL) was injected in the sub-Tenon's capsule. Pupillary diameter was measured at baseline and 2 and 5 minutes from the injections. The effects of the injections were expressed as a ratio of final (5 minutes) versus basal diameter.
Results:
A significant mydriasis occurred in the ropivacaine group when compared with the control group (Group R vs Group C ratio = 2.32, p < 0.0001) or with unoperated fellow eye (R vs unoperated eye ratio = 2.29, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Ropivacaine in the sub-Tenon's capsule induces a mydriasis probably related to a pharmacological ciliary ganglion block.
Related Concept Videos
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

