Flomax and cataract surgery
Posted , 10 users are following.
I've been on Flomax (tamsulosin) for around a year now with generally beneficial effects on my BPH symptoms. I had cataract surgery on my right eye about 18 months ago with no problems. My optician has now referred me for surgery on my left eye and I have an appointment with the consultant opthalmic surgeon later this month. If he agrees that surgery is required I'm guessing it could be scheduled for December or January under our UK NHS system.
I'm aware that Flomax has a side effect known as "floppy iris syndrome" (FIS) which effects the integrity of the iris and can lead to complications during cataract surgery.
Has anyone the the BPH community had to deal with this as an issue? If Flomax treatment is halted for a period before surgery will that reverse the FIS? Would switching to another alpha blocker eg alfuzosin be another way to reduce/remove the FIS symptoms?
0 likes, 27 replies
rdemyan arlowood
Posted
I just found an article written by Dr. Chang who was the researcher of the study that I mentioned. In this second article the question is asked "Should I stop taking Flomax before cataract surgery?" Here is the response:
"Consult with your ophthalmologist. Some surgeons may recommend stopping the medication for several weeks prior to surgery, but there is also evidence that the modified surgical techniques may not require patients to stop."
This response seems to suggest that there might be a chance of reversing to some degree the FIS.
CLJim rdemyan
Posted
rdemyan is that Dr Albert Chang formerly with UCSF and now Dir of HDR Brachytherapy at UCLA? Reason I ask Albert Chang treated me and now fighting radiation cystitis with hemuria ......this is the first time I have heard of flowmax associated with FIS .......
rdemyan CLJim
Posted
No. Dr. David F. Chang.
rdemyan CLJim
Posted
My optometrist said that she could tell from an examination if I have FIS. If that is true, maybe you should have a checkup and if you're okay, consider switching to alfuzosin. Maybe switch regardless.
derek76 rdemyan
Posted
My British one confirmed that I had FIS but only in one eye when I said I had been on the drug. I also had corneal deposits from taking Amiodarone.
CLJim rdemyan
Posted
Thank you very much for info I will check with eye doctor and ask to switch anyway.......
I am fighting urgency ,pain on urination plus gross heamturia ....do not need further problems
dantec arlowood
Posted
I just had a cataract surgery in my left eye and have been taking Flomax for a year. It is important to tell the surgeon ahead of time because they can compensate for it during the procedure. He had me stop it for a week before the surgery. There were no complications.
He also said that it has not been a problem for him in his experience. He is probably around 50 years old and has been doing this type of surgery for some time.
derek76 dantec
Posted
When I went for the pre procedure check up I said that I had been taking flowmax and suspected FIS and they confirmed it.
lee56659 arlowood
Posted
I was on doxazosin when I had my cataract surgery and had to issues. A friend was on Flomax and was not aware of FIS nor did the eye doctor ask him about it. He had all sorts of issues (not all entirely due to Flomax) after his first eye was done. He stopped Flomax immediately after the surgery but still had to wait several months before getting the 2nd eye done.
lee56659
Posted
There's a typo in my post. Should have read "NO" issues.
TKM arlowood
Posted
Arlo,
If you want to stop taking Flomax for some time prior to cataract surgery, why not try Clean Intermittent Catheterization, CIC. It will allow you to stop using the alpha blockers altogether, for as long as you want.
I have used Flomax for about 5 years with side effects of congested sinuses. I tried two weeks of Aflusosin, and did not have as good effects on the urinary flow as Flomax, but did have less problem with my sinuses, and less RE.
Thomas
arlowood
Posted
Hi folks
Just an update for the benefit of others who may be following this thread.
Had a session this morning with the Ophthalmic consultant who will be doing the cataract surgery on my left eye in due course. The object of the consultation was to assess the cataract and do all the other measurements required for him to specify the lens required.
I told him that I was taking tamsulosin and asked if he would recommend that I stop taking it and/or switch to an alternative treatment due to the FIS risk.
His reaction was that, having been on tamsulosin for 11 months now, there was no merit in stopping or switching. If the FIS was present it would not be reversed or ameliorated by ceasing ingestion or swapping to another alpha-blocker. He seemed to imply that FIS, if it were present, would occur quite quickly after first taking tamsulosin - so not a gradual onset
Also he said that today's surgeons were dealing with tamsulosin affected patients on a regular basis and had the strategies in place to manage the FIS issue if it was there.