Flomax and Cataract Surgery
The Flomax® television commercial tells viewers to let their doctors know about Flomax use if they are planning to have cataract surgery. That’s good advice!
Flomax® use (either current or in the past) is associated with cataract surgery complications. Unfortunately, stopping the medicine before surgery often does not decrease that risk. The good news is the advancements that we have implemented in our surgery have made this a non-issue for our patients for more than a year. That means faster recovery and less problems for our patients as we anticipate potential Flomax issues before they become a problem.
Flomax® is an oral medicine usually used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (or enlarged prostate) that many older men have. The drug helps them have more normal urination function. The drug is in a class called alpha-1 blockers.
This drug can have an unintended effect on the iris muscles during cataract surgery that can, in turn, make surgery very difficult. The iris ideally stays dilated and still during surgery in order to safely see inside the eye. This is usually no problem with the ordinary drops given just before surgery, but this isn’t the case for Flomax users. The problem is called floppy iris syndrome. During floppy iris syndrome, the iris muscle is excessively flaccid and progressively constricts during cataract surgery. The view to the cataract then becomes obstructed. Other alpha-1 blockers including Cardura® (doxazosin), Uroxatral® (alfuzosin), and Hytrin® (terazosin) are also associated with this syndrome, although usually in a less severe form.
The good news is that we now have several techniques and tools to help us effectively manage this syndrome during cataract surgery. Not all cases are obvious in the beginning of the case. Fortunately, we have many tools to make the surgery easier. Most commonly, we use a medication called phenyl-lido during surgery. It’s safe and helps almost instantly. Another tool is the Malyugin Ring®. The Malyugin Ring is a tool that we have found to be particularly useful for patients on BPH medications, as it helps to both dilate and stabilize the iris during cataract surgery, and it is a very safe and easy instrument to employ. It is removed after the cataract surgery. There are other techniques, and we keep a good supply of them ready to use in a moment’s notice so that our patients never have to suffer through the problem. Anticipating potential problems and being able to address them quickly is one way The Eye Clinic of Florida helps patients have better outcomes.
Some patients have asked whether they should stop their BPH medications prior to cataract surgery. We have not found any significant benefit from having patients stop these medications, and several studies have demonstrated that the IFIS syndrome can persist even months after stopping these medications. Also, since we have the technology above to effectively manage this condition, there is no need for patients to discontinue their BPH medications prior to cataract surgery when having surgery with us. Even if they forget to tell us about past use, our large inventory of Malyugin Rings ensures that no patient is ever without the best therapy. That’s good news since cataract and BPH are both very common.
I can’t comment on how others prevent problems with Flomax. We hope you will feel reassured when choosing The Eye Clinic of Florida for cataract surgery. If you have any questions about the above techniques or any other eye conditions, please call us at any time at (813) 538-1500. You can also call this number to schedule an appointment.
The Same Day Surgery Center in Zephyrhills is an accredited and licensed Medicare provider of outpatient surgery. Click to learn more about cataract surgery in Zephyrhills.
Happy Patient Testimonials
Happy Patients Talk About Their Experience with Cataract Surgery and Dr. Mahootchi.
This place is something AWESOME. Before my aunt had cataract surgery she had trouble counting fingers right in front of her. Now she has 20/20 vision. I must admit I was skeptical at first because of just being the type of person who worry a lot about my aunt. But I'm glad we trusted the process.
Years after surgery’s seeing 20/20 the results are outstanding. Now I only visit annually for a health checkup. Thank you Dr. Mahootchi and Team!!
I had a pleasant experience at The Eye Clinic of Florida. It was my first time there, and everything went really well. Dr. Huang and all the assistants were very thorough.
I am new to the area and needed my annual eye exam. After researching several eye clinics and reading the reviews I decided to book an appointment with the eye clinic of Florida. It was a very nice experience and happy I chose them. They are friendly and knowledgeable! I highly recommend them.
I have been going here for two years now, and both times the entire staff, from reception to nurse to doctor, were all so kind! They have a great selection of eyewear, the eye exam was made very comfortable, and again everyone was so nice. I would absolutely recommend this location to others (:
My experience at The Eye Clinic of Florida was outstanding. Dr. Mahootchi and his staff are extremely kind and caring. When I was in the surgical center I saw the staff cleaning the chairs and utensils whenever a patient left the area. Very impressive. I would highly recommend The Eye Clinic of Florida and Dr. Mahootchi to anyone.
Dr. Mahootchi is A #1 in my book, for sure! He has performed a couple procedures and I couldn’t be more happy with the results. The Same Day Surgery Center is very accommodating, as well as, the staff. All of the staff are very caring people, and make sure their patients are taken care! I highly recommend The Eye Clinic of Florida!
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