Which of the following eye drops will dilate the pupil?

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The choice of tropicamide is correct because it is a mydriatic agent, specifically an anticholinergic that works by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine on the iris sphincter muscle. This results in the dilation of the pupil, a process known as mydriasis. Tropicamide is commonly used during eye examinations to allow doctors to better view the interior structures of the eye, as a larger pupil provides a wider view.

In contrast, pilocarpine is a miotic agent that constricts the pupil by stimulating the iris sphincter muscle, which does not cause dilation. Pred Forte is a corticosteroid used to reduce inflammation in the eye, and it does not have any direct effect on pupil size. Proparacaine is a topical anesthetic that numbs the surface of the eye for procedures but, like Pred Forte, does not induce pupil dilation. Thus, tropicamide stands out as the only option that actively works to dilate the pupil.

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