EYES AND PROSTATES
ANCHOR LEAD: A POPULAR DRUG GIVEN TO MEN WITH ENLARGED PROSTATES MAY COMPROMISE CATARACT SURGERY, ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS
Flomax is a prescription drug given to many men with BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, where the prostate gland becomes enlarged and may compromise urination. But men taking Flomax may experience a higher rate of complications when they undergo cataract surgery, since the drug also has an effect on muscles in the eye. Arthur Burnett, a prostate expert at Johns Hopkins, says this study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, confirms previous research.
BURNETT: Much like any preventative approach here for medications that are very well popularized I think that patients should at least discuss this with their primary doctor. If there’s any kind of visual disturbance they may need to get an ophthalmologic evaluation I think that’s important. And this has been described as a real problem so I think it’s good that we’re aware of it. I think risk reduction is important. :19Burnett says it’s unknown at this point whether stopping Flomax some time before cataract surgery will help. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.
