Final answer:
Drugs are used in ocular exams and treatments to induce mydriasis or miosis, necessary for diagnosing and managing eye conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Drugs may be used for ocular examinations and treatment of eye diseases to obtain mydriasis and miosis, which are dilations and constrictions of the pupil, respectively. For example, phenylephrine is a drug that can induce mydriasis by mimicking the action of norepinephrine on the adrenergic receptor in the radial fibers of the iris smooth muscle. Conversely, pilocarpine is a muscarinic agonist that causes miosis and is used to treat eye disorders such as glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure. These drugs are essential for conducting thorough eye examinations and can also serve therapeutic purposes.