Which agent is used to relieve ciliary spasm and help stabilize the blood-aqueous barrier in uveitis?

• A. Atropine sulfate
• B. Prednisone
• C. Timolol
• D. Latanoprost

Answer: (A)

Relieving ciliary spasm in uveitis requires a drug that paralyzes the ciliary muscle, producing cycloplegia and pupil dilation. Atropine sulfate is a muscarinic blocker that achieves this: by paralyzing the ciliary body, it reduces painful spasm, relaxes the iris sphincter, and prevents iris-lens contact that can worsen inflammation. This relaxation also helps stabilize the blood-aqueous barrier because less movement and traction in the anterior chamber lowers ongoing leakage of inflammatory cells and proteins. In practice, this cycloplegic effect is essential for pain relief and for preventing complications like posterior synechiae, while anti-inflammatory therapy (such as steroids) addresses the underlying inflammation. Other options don’t relieve ciliary spasm: beta-blockers and prostaglandin analogs focus on pressure control and outflow, not on relaxing the ciliary muscle, and systemic anti-inflammatories don’t directly paralyze the ciliary body.