Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Ophthalmology. 2007 May;114(5):957-64.

    Prospective multicenter evaluation of cataract surgery in patients taking tamsulosin (Flomax).

    Chang DF, Osher RH, Wang L, Koch DD.

    Altos Eye Physicians, Los Altos, California, USA. dceye@earthlink.net

    PURPOSE: Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) caused by systemic alpha-blockers has been associated with an increased risk of cataract surgical complications when the surgeon was unaware of the medication history and did not anticipate its occurrence. This study was undertaken to evaluate the surgical outcomes and rate of complications when the ophthalmologist knew the patient was taking tamsulosin (Flomax, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT) and used 1 of several strategies to manage IFIS. DESIGN: Prospective multicenter nonrandomized observational series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 167 consecutive eyes in 135 patients taking tamsulosin and undergoing cataract surgery. METHODS: Phacoemulsification was performed in conjunction with at least 1 of 4 different IFIS management strategies, namely, topical atropine preoperatively, iris retractors, pupil expansion ring, or use of viscoadaptive ophthalmic viscosurgical device with reduced fluidic parameters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Severity of IFIS, incidence of operative or postoperative complications, and final visual acuity. RESULTS: The IFIS severity was rated as mild in 17%, moderate in 30%, and severe in 43% of the study eyes. No IFIS was noted in 10% of the eyes. The rate of posterior capsule rupture and vitreous loss was 0.6% (1/167; 95% confidence interval, 0%-1.8%). Ninety-five percent of eyes achieved a best-corrected visual acuity of at least 20/40. CONCLUSION: When experienced surgeons could anticipate IFIS and employ compensatory surgical techniques, the complication rate from cataract surgery was low and the visual outcomes were excellent in eyes of patients with a history of tamsulosin use.

    PMID: 17467530 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Supplemental Content

    Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read

    Patient drug information

    • Hyoscyamine (Anaspaz®, Cystospaz®, Cystospaz-M®, ...)

      Hyoscyamine is used to control symptoms associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It works by decreasing the motion of the stomach and intestines and the secretion of stomach fluids, including acid. H...

    • Atropine Ophthalmic (Atropine Care® 1%, Atropisol®, Isopto® Atropine, ...)

      Atropine is used before eye examinations to dilate (open) the pupil, the black part of the eye through which you see. It is also used to relieve pain caused by swelling and inflammation of the eye.

    • Tamsulosin (Flomax®)

      Tamsulosin is used in men to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) which include difficulty urinating (hesitation, dribbling, weak stream, and incomplete bladder emptying), pain...