Atropine Eye Drop

Atropine Eye Drop is a 10 mL bottle of atropine sulfate 1% (10 mg per mL), an antimuscarinic eye drop that widens the pupil (mydriasis) and relaxes the eye's focusing muscle (cycloplegia). It is not an antibiotic and does not treat eye infections. The pack we sell is the Indian product listed under Jawa Pharmaceuticals (Tata 1mg names Jawa Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd; Truemeds names Jawa Laboratories). It costs $8 for one bottle, or $5 a bottle in the 6 bottle pack, before shipping.

Atropine 1% is a strong, long-acting drop. One dose can blur near vision and make the eyes sensitive to light for up to 2 weeks, it can set off an acute glaucoma attack in eyes with a narrow drainage angle, and enough of it absorbed into the body can poison a small child. It is used for eye examinations, for some types of eye inflammation and for treating a lazy eye, and in each case an eye doctor should first examine the eye and decide on the dose. This 1% drop is not the low-dose atropine used to slow short-sightedness in children (see below). Clinical details on this page come from the US and UK labels listed under Sources.

Atropine Eye Drop at a glance

Price per bottle

Prices as of October 2026; the pack selector shows the current price. None of the packs reaches the $149 free shipping level on its own, so each includes the $25 shipping charge below unless you add other items.

Think about how much you will use before buying a larger pack. The UK labels for multi-dose atropine 1% say to discard the bottle 28 days or 4 weeks (Aspire, Martindale, Neon) or 30 days (Macure) after first opening, while the US Apotex label says an opened bottle can be used until the expiry date; the Indian listings we checked give no opened-bottle rule, so read the Jawa carton. For an eye test or a short course, one bottle is usually more than enough (our estimate), and spare bottles add risk if there are children at home.

Compared with atropine 1% eye drops in the US

In the US, atropine sulfate 1% eye drops are sold as Isopto Atropine (Alcon) and as generics from several makers, in 2 mL, 5 mL and 15 mL bottles. The figures below are what US pharmacies paid according to the Medicaid NADAC survey (file as of 14 October 2026, rates effective 23 September 2026). They are pharmacy acquisition costs, not the price at the counter.

NADAC had no row for the Isopto Atropine brand name in this file. A single bottle from us with shipping ($33) costs more than a US pharmacy pays for a 5 mL generic bottle, so if you are in the US and have a prescription, compare US generic cash prices and your insurance cover before ordering from abroad.

Atropine 1% is not a myopia drop

Very dilute atropine is used to slow the worsening of short-sightedness (myopia) in children. In the EU and UK, Ryjunea 0.1 mg/mL (0.01%) from Santen is licensed for this, for children aged 3 to 14 at the start of treatment, at one drop in each eye once daily, and treatment "should only be initiated by an ophthalmologist or a healthcare professional who has myopia within their scope of practice" (UK SmPC 4.1, 4.2). The European Commission authorised it in June 2025 and the UK on 30 October 2025. Drugs@FDA lists no low-dose atropine eye drop as of 19 October 2026; the US approvals we found are all for the 1% strength.

Do not use this 1% drop for myopia control, and do not try to dilute it at home. A home dilution cannot be made sterile or accurate, and a mistake leaves a child with a drop far stronger than intended (our advice). If your child's short-sightedness is getting worse, ask an eye doctor about licensed options where you live.

How to use Atropine Eye Drop

Use it only as your eye doctor directs. The labelled doses differ by country and use:

1. Before the first use, the UK label says the depth of the eye's drainage angle "should be assessed" (UK 4.2). That needs an eye examination.
2. Wash your hands. Tilt the head back, pull the lower lid down gently and put one drop into the pocket. Do not let the dropper tip touch the eye, eyelids or any other surface, as this may contaminate the solution (Apotex US label 5.3).
3. Close the eye and press on the inner corner, next to the nose, for a minute or more. Two UK labels say this may reduce how much reaches the bloodstream, and the Minims label says it "is especially advisable in children."
4. Wash your hands afterwards. The UK label says "great care should be taken to avoid getting the product into the mouth." If a drop runs onto a child's cheek, wipe or wash it off straight away.
5. Watch a child for 30 minutes after the drop (UK label 4.4).
6. If you use other eye drops, leave at least 5 minutes between them, and put eye ointments in last (UK label 4.2).
7. Keep the bottle tightly closed, out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use the drops if the solution is cloudy or discoloured (Truemeds), or after the expiry date.

Contact lenses. The US bottles and the UK multi-dose bottles of atropine 1% contain benzalkonium chloride (the UK Minims single-use units have no preservative). One UK label says to remove soft or hard lenses before the drop and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back; another says soft lenses "must not be worn during the period of use." The Indian listings we checked do not name the preservative in the Jawa pack, so read the carton and ask your eye doctor (our advice).

Blurred vision and driving. In the Isopto Atropine label, the pupil reaches full size in about 30 to 40 minutes and recovers in about 7 to 10 days; focusing is fully relaxed within 60 to 180 minutes and recovers in about 7 to 12 days (US label 14). Do not drive or do anything hazardous while your pupils are dilated or your vision is blurred, and protect your eyes in bright light (US label 17; UK label 4.7).

Groups who need extra care

• Babies and young children. The UK label says atropine "should be used with caution in children and particularly in children with low body weight" and in those with epilepsy, brain disorders or Down syndrome, because of "the increased risk of central nervous system, cardiac, respiratory and gastrointestinal toxicity" (UK 4.4). Bowel blockage, bloating and slow heart rate have been found in preterm or low birth weight babies (UK 4.8). Use the lowest dose that works.
• Down syndrome, spastic paralysis or brain damage. The Isopto Atropine label says these people "are particularly susceptible to central nervous system disturbances, cardiopulmonary, and gastrointestinal toxicity from systemic absorption of atropine" (Isopto Atropine US label 5.3).
• Older people. The UK label says elderly patients "are at increased risk of systemic adverse effects" and that mydriatics should be used with caution in the elderly (UK 4.2, 4.4). The US labels report no overall differences in safety or effectiveness (US 8.5).
• Fever or hot weather. Atropine reduces sweating. The UK label says to use it with caution in people with fever or at high temperatures because of the risk of overheating (UK 4.4).
• Raised eye pressure, fast heart rate or high blood pressure. Use with caution in anyone who may have raised eye pressure, and care is needed with conditions that cause a fast heart rate (Martindale UK label 4.4). Rises in blood pressure have been reported after normal doses (US 5.2).
• Dark eyes. A darkly pigmented iris is harder to dilate, and the UK label warns to take care to avoid overdosage (Martindale UK label 4.4).
• Dry eye or corneal problems. The benzalkonium chloride in UK atropine drops can irritate and dry the eye; use with caution and with regular checks (Aspire UK label 4.4).
• Pregnancy. The US label says it "should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus" (8.1). The Aspire UK label says atropine "should only be used during pregnancy if absolutely required and at the lowest possible dose" (4.6); other UK labels say to use it only when directed by a doctor (Martindale, Macure, Minims) or that it is preferable to avoid it during pregnancy (Neon).
• Breastfeeding. The Aspire UK label says atropine passes into breast milk and "the drug should not be administered during breastfeeding" (4.6); other UK labels say to use it only when directed by a doctor, or to decide with your doctor between breastfeeding and treatment. The US label has no data on milk and asks you and your doctor to weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the need for the drop (8.2).

Medicines to mention to your doctor:

• MAO inhibitors: the US label says the combination "is generally not recommended because of the potential to precipitate hypertensive crisis" (US 7.1).
• Other medicines with antimuscarinic effects, for example some antihistamines and tricyclic antidepressants: the effects of atropine may be increased (UK 4.5).

Side effects

The labels give no frequency table from trials for the eye drop. They list:

• In the eye: eye pain and stinging when the drop goes in; blurred vision, light sensitivity, superficial keratitis (surface irritation of the cornea) and fewer tears are common; allergic reactions such as papillary conjunctivitis, contact dermatitis and eyelid swelling are less common (US 6.1). Longer use can cause irritation, redness, swelling and conjunctivitis (UK 4.8).
• In the body: dry skin, mouth and throat; drowsiness; restlessness, irritability or delirium; fast heart rate; flushed skin of the face and neck (US 6.2). The Aspire UK label lists hallucinations, confusion, agitation, fast heart rate, constipation, fever and flushing as common (1 in 100 to 1 in 10), and urinary retention, convulsions, low blood pressure and slowed breathing with frequency not known (UK 4.8).
• Raised eye pressure: closed-angle glaucoma is listed as rare (UK 4.8), and the risk is highest in eyes with a narrow drainage angle.

The UK label says toxic symptoms "are usually transient (several hours) but may last up to 24 hours", and that atropine eye drops have been associated with psychotic reactions and behaviour changes in children (UK 4.8).

When to get urgent help

• A child swallows the drops or gets too many. Call emergency services or poison control straight away (911 in the US and Canada, 999 in the UK, 000 in Australia; US Poison Help 1-800-222-1222; Australian Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26). Each mL of a 1% solution holds 10 mg of atropine sulfate, and the US Apotex label says that "in pediatric patients, 10 mg or less may be fatal" (US 10).
• Signs of atropine poisoning in a child or adult: hot, dry, flushed skin, fever, a very dry mouth, a fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, unsteadiness, slurred speech, fits, trouble passing urine, or slow breathing (UK 4.8, 4.9). Get emergency help, and tell staff what was used, how much and when.
• Sudden eye pain, a painful red eye or worse vision after the drop: this can be an attack of closed-angle glaucoma (UK 4.8) and needs emergency eye care straight away (our advice).
• Allergy signs: swelling of the eyelids, lips, face or throat, rash, hives or trouble breathing. Stop using the drop and get help (our advice).

Who should not use it

Never use it if:

• You have had an allergic reaction to atropine or any ingredient of the drop (US 4; UK 4.3). The Aspire UK label also lists hypersensitivity to belladonna alkaloids.
• You have closed-angle (narrow-angle) glaucoma or a narrow drainage angle, or a tendency towards glaucoma (UK 4.3). The Minims UK label adds that it should not be used "where latent narrow angle glaucoma is suspected." The US labels list only hypersensitivity as a contraindication, but because of this risk, have your eye examined first (our advice).

Not recommended or use with care:

• Babies under 3 months: "not recommended" (US 8.4).
• With MAO inhibitors: "generally not recommended" (US 7.1).
• Breastfeeding: "should not be administered" (Aspire UK 4.6); weigh the benefits with your doctor (US 8.2).
• Young or low weight children, Down syndrome, spastic paralysis, brain damage or epilepsy, older people, fever or hot weather, conditions with a fast heart rate: caution as above.
• Myopia control in children: this 1% product is not a low-dose myopia drop.

Prescription and legal status

Atropine 1% eye drops are prescription medicines in the US ("Rx only" on the labels; the earliest approval listed in Drugs@FDA, NDA 206289, is dated 18 July 2014, and Isopto Atropine, NDA 208151, followed on 1 December 2016), the UK (prescription only medicine on the emc, for example Minims Atropine Sulphate 1% and Atropine 1% eye drops from Aspire and Martindale), Australia (Atropt 1% is Schedule 4, Prescription Only Medicine) and Canada (Alcon Atropine, DIN 00035017, and Minims Atropine Sulphate, DIN 02148358, are marketed as prescription drugs). The Indian listings we checked do not state the prescription status of the Jawa pack. The FDA says personal importation of unapproved medicines is illegal in most circumstances, and the Indian pack is not the US-approved pack. Check the rules where you live, and use this drop only with a prescription and instructions from your eye doctor.

Buying genuine atropine eye drops

The MHRA warns: "Any medicine not authorised for sale in the UK can be unsafe or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what is in them or the negative health effects they can have." It also advises: "Only use UK-registered pharmacies, including online pharmacies displaying the official green cross logo." When your order arrives, check that the carton and bottle say atropine sulfate 1%, name Jawa, and show a batch number and an expiry date, that the seal is intact, and that the solution is clear and colourless. These checks cannot prove a bottle is genuine, because counterfeiters copy packaging. If a drop does not dilate the pupil as your eye doctor expects, or if a batch causes symptoms, seek medical advice and report it to your medicines regulator (the MHRA Yellow Card scheme in the UK, FDA MedWatch in the US, the TGA in Australia or Health Canada) as well as to us.

Delivery

We ship Atropine Eye Drop to the US, UK, Australia and Canada in plain packaging with tracking. Standard delivery takes 7 to 14 business days, so order well before an eye test or a planned course of treatment. Shipping costs a flat $25 on orders under $149 and is free from $149. Store the bottle as the carton says; Truemeds lists below 30°C and protected from light for the Jawa pack. See our shipping page and refund policy.

Related guides

• How to buy eye care medicine online safely
• Buying eye drops from an online pharmacy: what you need to know
• Glaucoma eye drops: every type explained

Another dilating drop: Tropicacyl Eye Drop (tropicamide). Ask your eye doctor which drop suits the test or treatment you need.

Sources

• Isopto Atropine (atropine sulfate ophthalmic solution) 1%, US prescribing information, Alcon Laboratories, DailyMed setid 20491566-e6eb-8d4a-3083-77ea429f7bc4, version 8, effective 7 October 2022, sections 1 to 8, 10 to 12, 14, 16 and 17. DailyMed
• Atropine sulfate ophthalmic solution USP 1%, US prescribing information, Apotex Corp., DailyMed setid 127a7e32-a150-01d6-a66a-b7708d85809f, version 8, revised March 2026, sections 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 17. DailyMed
• Atropine 1% w/v eye drops, solution, UK Summary of Product Characteristics, Aspire Pharma Ltd, PL 35533/0162, revised 9 July 2021, sections 4.1 to 4.9 and 6. emc
• Atropine Eye Drops 1.0% w/v (Vistatropine), UK Summary of Product Characteristics, Martindale Pharmaceuticals, PL 00156/0044, revised 6 October 2016, sections 4.1 to 4.9 and 6.3. emc
• Atropine 1% w/v eye drops, solution, UK Summary of Product Characteristics, Macure Pharma UK, PL 54594/0008, sections 4.4, 4.6 and 6.3. emc
• Atropine 1.0% w/v eye drops, solution, UK Summary of Product Characteristics, Neon Healthcare, PL 45043/0132, revised 6 December 2023, sections 4.6 and 6.3. emc
• Minims Atropine Sulphate 1%, UK Summary of Product Characteristics, Bausch and Lomb UK, PL 03468/0068, revised 22 April 2015, sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.6 and 6.1. emc
• Ryjunea 0.1 mg/ml eye drops, solution, UK Summary of Product Characteristics, Santen, PL 16058/0037, first authorised 30 October 2025, revised 3 September 2026, sections 4.1 and 4.2; Santen press release on European Commission approval, 5 June 2025. emc
• US Food and Drug Administration, Drugs@FDA (via openFDA, searched 19 October 2026): atropine sulfate ophthalmic solution 1%, NDA 206289 (approved 18 July 2014), NDA 208151 Isopto Atropine (1 December 2016), NDA 213581 and ANDAs. Drugs@FDA
• healthdirect Australia: Atropt 1% eye drops, 15 mL, Schedule 4, accessed October 2026. healthdirect
• Health Canada Drug Product Database: Alcon Atropine (DIN 00035017) and Minims Atropine Sulphate (DIN 02148358), atropine sulfate 1%, prescription, marketed, searched October 2026. Health Canada DPD
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), atropine 1% eye drops, per-NDC rows, 2026 file as of 14 October 2026 (rates effective 23 September 2026). data.medicaid.gov
• Truemeds and Tata 1mg. Atropine 1% eye drops 10 mL (Jawa) listings, accessed October 2026. Truemeds
• MHRA. 20 million illegal erectile dysfunction pills seized as MHRA warns against risky online buys, 13 February 2026. GOV.UK
• US Food and Drug Administration. Personal Importation. FDA

This page is for information and is not medical advice. Atropine 1% is a prescription medicine; your eye doctor should examine your eyes and set the dose.