Which topical anticholinergic medication is often used for amblyopia therapy?

Atropine is utilized in amblyopia therapy primarily due to its ability to blur vision in the unaffected eye, thereby encouraging the use of the amblyopic eye. This approach, known as penalization, is effective for treating various forms of amblyopia such as strabismic amblyopia and refractive amblyopia. Atropine's long duration of action and its relative safety make it a preferred option for this purpose.

In this context, while other anticholinergic medications like scopolamine, homatropine, and cyclopentolate also have muscarinic antagonist properties, they are not as commonly used for amblyopia therapy. Scopolamine is primarily used for motion sickness and has less relevance in the treatment of ocular conditions. Homatropine and cyclopentolate are generally utilized for their mydriatic effects during comprehensive eye examinations or for certain conditions but are not specifically indicated for penalization in amblyopia. Thus, atropine stands out as the most appropriate choice for this therapeutic application.