title: The floppy iris syndrome - what urologists and ophthalmologists need to know.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cataract formation are common in older people. Medical management of symptomatic BPH is often preferred to surgical treatment as surgery increases the risk of morbidities, whereas, surgery is the main form of treatment to restore sight in patient with cataract. The clinical treatment of BPH is either alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist alone or combination of alpha reductase inhibitor and alpha adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist. There are four alpha-AR antagonists currently available to treat BPH. The uroselective alpha-blocker tamsulosin is the most commonly used drug among all. Studies showed that the majority of the patients who develop intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) were on tamsulosin. Women are more likely to develop cataract than men and some recent studies showed that tamsulosin is effective in treating female lower urinary tract symptoms and thereby can cause IFIS during cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a critical review of the published articles and abstracts on association of IFIS with alpha-blockers and other medications as well as other medical conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tamsulosin is the most common cause of formation of IFIS. However, not all patients given tamsulosin develop IFIS and cases have been reported without any tamsulosin treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tamsulosin is a recognized cause to impede mydriasis and lead to IFIS during cataract surgery. Urologist should collaborate with their ophthalmology colleagues and general practitioner during prescribing tamsulosin in patients with history of cataract or waiting for planned cataract surgery. The increasing life expectancy and growth of older people will increase the number of men and women who suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms as well as cataract. Therefore, further research and studies are required to properly understand the relation of alpha blockers and IFIS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Faruquz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Islam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Junaid
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Papatsoris
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jhumur
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pati
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Junaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buchholz
keywords: Alpha adrenergic blocker; Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Cataract complication; Floppy iris syndrome; Tamsulosin