Prostate Medication & Cataract Surgery

Question: I am taking Avodart which is for enlarged prostate. It is different from Flomax®. Can it pose problems with Cataract Surgery?

Answer: Patients who suffer from an enlarged prostate are often treated with a class of medication called and "alpha-blocker". Alpha blockers come in two types-"selective alpha blockers" and "non selective" alpha blockers are called that because they are VERY selective in their muscle relaxing effect on the bladder AND on the Iris-which makes it more difficult to perform Cataract Surgery. Non selective alpha blockers are less selective in their effect, as the name implies, and thus cause less or little difficulty performing Cataract Surgery. Medications like Flomax® and Rapaflo® are selective alpha blockers and medications like Uroxatral ®and Hytrin® are non selective alpha blockers. Avodart is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CLASS of medication for an enlarged prostate (BPH) called an "alpha reductase inhibitor". It does not cause the concerns that alpha blockers cause.

Anyone taking any type of medication for an enlarged prostate should inform their Cataract Surgeon. Taking any type of medication for BPH does not preclude you from having cataract Surgery but alerting your cataract surgeon will allow them to take any necessary precautions or modify their surgical technique so that you get the best possible results.

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