thanks for your reply. I searched the net and heres what I found:

Why is there a need to dilate my child’s eyes to check for
refractive errors?  Won’t the cycloplegic drops have harmful side
effects?

Children have great accommodative amplitudes and they can change the
measurement of refraction.  In a child who has no error of refraction
(emmetropic), a significant myopia, and sometimes astigmatism, may be
picked up if he or she accommodates.  The only way to get an accurate
measurement of error of refraction in children is to inhibit
accommodation with the use of cycloplegic agents.

There are several agents commonly used in practice and these include
tropicamide, cyclopentolate, and atropine.  The first two agents have
rapid onset of accommodation, short duration and few side effects.  The
last one has a longer onset, requiring three days of drug application,
and longer duration, but provides the greatest amount of cycloplegia.
Most children may be refracted using the first two.  However, children
with dark irides like Asians are not as responsive as Caucasian
children to the cycloplegic action of the first two agents.  Atropine
refraction is therefore recommended for this set of children.

Minor side effects of cycloplegic agents include transient stinging,
blurring of vision, and photophobia.  The stinging sensation is
diminished by the application of a drop of anesthetic prior to the
application of the cycloplegic agent.  Photophobia may be addressed by
wearing wrap-around sunglasses or hats.  The duration of photophobia
and blurring of vision is related to the duration of the drug’s
mydriatic effect.  The shorter-acting agents provide faster recovery of
accommodation and of resolution of symptoms.  Atropine is associated
with relatively more adverse effects such as dry mouth, flushing of the
face, fever, allergic reaction, irritability, tachycardia, and
hallucinations.  Therefore, the child’s weight and age are
important considerations in the choice of atropine concentration or
dose for cycloplegic refraction.  Punctal occlusion during drug
administration of atropine helps in decreasing the systemic absorption
of atropine and greatly diminishes the occurrence of severe adverse
drug reactions.  Any child with severe adverse drug reaction should be
brought to the hospital for immediate treatment.

How does it work?

Atropine belongs to the group of medicines called anti-muscarinics.
Atropine blocks the receptors in the muscles of the eye (muscarinic
receptors). These receptors are involved in controlling the pupil size
and the shape of the lens.

By blocking these receptors, atropine produces dilatation of the pupil
(mydriasis) and prevents the eye from accommodating for near vision
(cycloplegia).

Atropine is given as eye drops to dilate the pupil and relax the lens
so that eye examinations can be carried out thoroughly. It is often
used to aid eye examinations in young children. It is also used to
relax the muscles that inflame and over-contract in the eye in
conditions such as uveitus.

comments:

I read that atropine is used for amblyombia by blurring the good eye. I
also read atropine can last 2 weeks! It does fully cycoplegize you but
at the expense of making your vision blurry, especially from near. I
also read you need to take it twice a day for 4-7 days then again half
an hour before your cycoplegic eye exam! I read that its known for
risks of side effects, especially long term. tropicamide is not
normally used for cycloplegic refraction as the cycloplegia obtained
with this drug is incomplete. The drugs most frequently used in
cycloplegic refraction are atropine and cyclopentolate, as there is
significant residual accommodation with other drugs.

I have found useful instructions:

http://www.eyetec.net/ce/M4S1.htm

They say cyclopentolate is the best option and works very well and
atropine isnt really needed unless your a little kid with high
accomodation. Half hour is needed for the drops to take effect. The
optometrist can work on other patients in the meantime. Is
cyclopentolate known for blurrying distance vision like atropine does?

"Because you have vision problems?"

dad says I already have glasses so what does it matter? I told him
myopia isnt my only problem!

"They all insert eye drops."

I told dad this! They have to be able to insert drops for things like
cycoplegia.

"It's important to talk to the doctor to agree on what to do.  Telling
them how to do it isn't a good idea."

Of course. hes the expert, maybe he thinks what to do is best for me. I
will discuss my options and let him be the judge of what action to take
with the given infomation ive provided.

"In my
case, you can't just make an appointment with the ophthamologist."

Over here I can.

"The optometrist will check you out and do a
diagnosis."

Then ill see one.

Thanks for your replies. I will have dad schedule me an appointment and
I am going to get a cycoplegic refraction among other things. Exactly
what should I ask to be tested for, clarify the above mentioned