Eye Doctor, Dr. Almallah's Corner

Serving New Jersey, Monmouth County, & Ocean County

“Prostate Drug Warning For Cataract Patients”

Because the drug is so commonly prescribed for older men who may be considering cataract surgery, it bears mentioning that taking tamsulosin (Flomax) within two weeks of cataract surgery increases the risk of experiencing serious post-operative complications. Tamsulosin is commonly prescribed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, which affects about 75 percent of men by age 70. The drug acts on receptors that are located in the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder neck, as well as in the dilator smooth muscle of the iris. Because of this link, research shows that men who took the drug before cataract surgery were 2.33 times more likely to require post-operative treatment for retinal detachment, lost lens or lens fragment, and endophthalmitis (inflammation of the intraocular cavity).

Cataracts affect a large percent of senior citizens age 65 and older in the United States today. It is important that patients inform their ophthalmologist whether they are currently taking alpha-blockers, such as Flomax, or did so in the past.

P.S. Research does not indicate that the use of alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers other than tamsulosin is linked to post-cataract surgery complications.