Flomax & cataract surgery

[svm67]

Is flomax a bigproblem as itrelates to cataract surgery?

[svm67]

Thank you.

[Flavius G Pernoud III, MD]

Flomax can be a nuisance to a cataract surgeon. Risks of complications increase if the surgeon cannot see the cataractous lens well. Flomax often but not always causes the pupil not to dilate well in response to dilating drops. In removing the cataract which is behind the pupil the doctor cannot visualize the peripheral portion of the lens which means that he or she is "flying blind" trying to pulverize the lens and evacuate the pieces. An experienced surgeon can work around the problem and sometimes has to use mechanical pupil expanders of some kind which add to the difficulty and duration of the surgery.