SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients who are using
Flomax for treatment of prostate enlargement and are considering Refractive
Lens Exchange -- an alternative to Lasik laser eye surgery -- need to
notify their eye doctor they are taking or have taken the drug, according
to the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA,
http://www.USAEyes.org ), a nonprofit patient advocacy.
"Our advisory relates directly to a recent joint statement from the
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the American
Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Urological Association
(AUA) that raises concerns for cataract patients," says Glenn Hagele,
Executive Director of CRSQA. "Refractive Lens Exchange is exactly the same
as cataract surgery and the same concerns apply. The only difference
between the surgeries is the reason for the surgery."
Cataracts are a gradual clouding of the natural lens of the eye,
commonly associated with aging. Refractive Lens Exchange is an alternative
to Lasik, the popular laser eye surgery to reduce the need for corrective
lenses. Refractive Lens Exchange may be recommended for patients at or past
middle age or who have extremely poor vision. "Like cataract surgery,
Refractive Lens Exchange removes the natural lens within the eye and
replaces it with an artificial lens that reduces or eliminates the need for
glasses and contacts."
According to the ASCRS, AAO, AUA joint statement, "Tamsulosin
(Flomax(R)) is the most commonly prescribed drug for prostate enlargement,
or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). By facilitating more complete
emptying of the bladder, Flomax decreases the need to urinate during the
middle of the night. However, Flomax and other similar systemic drugs
called alpha-blockers can potentially cause difficulty during cataract
surgery, particularly if the eye surgeon has not been forewarned. Other
drugs in this alpha-blocker class include, terazosin (Hytrin(R)), doxazosin
(Cardura(R)), and alfuzosin (Uroxatral(R))."
A study published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
identified a potential problem that occurs during cataract/Refractive Lens
Exchange surgery in patients using Flomax. Eye drops administered during
cataract/Refractive Lens Exchange surgery constrict the iris (colored
portion of eye) to enlarge the pupil. The study indicates that the
combination of certain alpha-blocker drugs used for prostrate treatment and
drops used to enlarge the pupil can cause irregular iris behavior during
surgery. This irregular behavior is termed Intraoperative Floppy Iris
Syndrome (IFIS). If notified of the use of alpha-blocker medication in
advance, the eye surgeon can limit this irregularity without adverse effect
on the patient.
"Because cataract surgery and Refractive Lens Exchange are essentially
the same surgery but for different purposes, patients considering
Refractive Lens Exchange as well as cataract surgery need to be especially
diligent about notifying their eye doctor of the use of these prostate
medications," advises Hagele.
The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance is a nonprofit
nongovernmental patient advocacy organization that evaluates and certifies
doctors who perform surgery to reduce the need for corrective lenses.
SOURCE Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.usaeyes.org
CONTACT:
Glenn Hagele of Council for Refractive
Surgery Quality Assurance, 800-872-3937, or
glenn.hagele@USAEyes.org
|
