Surgery for congenital cataracts is basically the same as adult cataracts in that the cloudy lens in the eye is surgically removed. However, unlike adults, since infants and young children are in the growth and development stage, their eyes will react more heavily after surgery, so a pupil dilator should be used after surgery to keep the pupil dilated and narrowed to avoid iris adhesions. When it comes to eye dilators, the most difficult question for parents is whether to use a fast or slow dilator. What if side effects occur? Today, we will tell you how to use post-surgical eye dilators to reduce side effects. There is a difference between fast and slow eye drops, so which one should I use after surgery? Under normal circumstances, children younger than one year old will not be implanted with an IOL while the cloudy lens is surgically removed. Slow dilators (atropine) and fast dilators (medrolene) can be used alternately so that the operated eye can maintain a medium-sized pupil, which can more effectively reduce the child’s inflammatory response to surgery and reduce complications such as pupillary blockage. Children with IOL implants, who are generally more than 2 years old and have relatively mature eye development, have less postoperative reactions and complications than infant babies, and the use of rapid pupil dilators alone after surgery is sufficient. Of course, if a child’s post-operative inflammatory reaction is particularly severe, even if an IOL is implanted, a slow-dilating agent – atropine – is required, the details of which are chosen by the doctor according to the condition. What should I do if I have side effects from the dilating eye drops? In the early postoperative period for infants, atropine is used every day, usually once in the morning and once in the evening, and after 5 to 7 days, it can be used only once at night. Some children, especially younger children, may experience side effects such as flushing and low fever during this period. If the reaction is mild, you can continue to use it, or use it every other day. When dropping in the pupil dispersant, parents can press the tear sac area at the root of the child’s nose, taking care not to have their fingers touch their eyes, which prevents the drug from being absorbed too much by the body and reduces the adverse reactions to the drug, as well as the main amount of medication each time the drops are applied. If the child’s reaction is particularly heavy, with frequent flushing, fever, or even irritability, the drug needs to be stopped. After discontinuing atropine, it is important to appropriately increase the number of rapid pupil dilators used to reduce postoperative discomfort reactions. (This article is an original work and may not be reproduced without authorization.)