Medications and Cataracts

Medications and Cataracts

Medications and Cataracts

The human eye is comprised of many parts, one of them being the lens. When this lens becomes blocked and cloudy, it usually indicates the formation of a cataract. Cataracts can form for a variety of reasons, but one common reason is the use of certain medications.

Medications That Can Cause Cataracts

The three most common medications that can lead to cataracts are corticosteroids, deferoxamine mesylate and birth control pills.

Corticosteroids: A medication used to treat asthma, arthritis and tissue swelling, both inhaled and systemic corticosteroids are high risk factors for developing both posterior subcapsular and nuclear cataracts.

Deferoxamine mesylate: This medication used to remove excess iron from your bloodstream to prevent it from damaging the body is also a leading contribution to the formation of cataracts.

Birth control pills: Certain types of combination hormonal contraceptives such as NuvaRing and OrthoEvra increase your chances of developing cataracts.

Other Medications and Cataracts

A number of other medications have been linked to an increased risk of developing cataracts, including:

Antihistamines

Tranquilizers

Sulfa drugs

Oral anti-diabetic drugs

Antidepressants

NSAIDS (such as aspirin and ibuprofen)

Fluroquinone, terbinafine, mefloquine type antibiotics

Glucocorticoids (Prednisone)

Steroids

Danger of Flomax before Cataract Surgery

Flomax, a commonly prescribed prostate drug, may cause complications incataract surgery.A recently published studyexamined the incidence of Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) incataract surgery practices. Although Flomax will not affect your vision or eye health;it does block the dilator muscle in the iris.Since your pupils must be dilated for cataract surgery, this can present a problem.

Besides having a poorly-dilated pupil, patients with IFIS will have an iris that behaves erratically during cataract surgery. If your iris flops around and may abruptly constrict during surgery, this can cause surgical complications. Be sure to ask your eye surgeon about taking Flomax before undergoing cataract surgery.

As you are recovering from cataract surgery, you will also be given a specific schedule of eye drops to help healing and control the pressure inside your eye. Be sure to follow your post-operative instructions carefully to avoid any complications. If you are instructed to avoid any medications, be sure to do so to achieve optimum surgical results.

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