Mydriasis eye, and also to reduce painful ciliary muscle spasm (see cycloplegia). One effect of administration of a mydriatic is intolerance to bright light (photophobia). Purposefully-induced mydriasis via mydriatics is also used as a diagnostic test for Horner's syndrome. Mydriasis can be induced via modulation of adrenergic or cholinergic signalling. Within the adrenergic system, norepinephrine is a hormone and neurotransmitter responsible for regulating physiological processes in the body, including the involuntary muscles of the autonomic nervous system (such as the dilation or constriction of the pupil aperture via the muscles of the iris). Modulation of norepinephrine signalling can induce mydriasis. For
Mydriasis instance, the adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (e.g. Cyclomydril) is used if strong mydriasis is needed for a surgical intervention. Alternatively, anticholinergics (in particular, antimuscarinics) such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine antagonize the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the eye. Blocking acetylcholine receptors, reduces the pupilary muscles' ability to constrict and causes dilation (which is critical in eye surgery procedures such as cataract surgery which require uninterrupted access to the inner eye via the pupilary aperture, thus requiring that the eye be both paralyzed and anesthetized before the procedure can go ahead. The antimuscarinic, tropicamide, may be used as a mydriastic agent during