Abstract

Cross-sectional study to identify and study the effects of alpha-adrenergic antagonists on iris parameters and subsequent operative challenges encountered during cataract surgery as a result of the morphological changes in the iris.
30 patients with current or past treatment with any systemic alpha-1ARA and 30 untreated controls. Methods: Slit-lamp-adapted OCT was done to measure iris thickness at the dilator muscle region (DMR) and sphincter muscle region (SMR), Ratio between the DMR/SMR, pupillary diameter. Results: Most treated patients were on tamsulosin. Photopic pupil diameter was reduced in the study group. SMR was similar between groups. Significantly lower values were found in treated subjects. Longer duration of alpha-1ARA treatment correlated to a reduced DMR/SMR ratio. Conclusions: Patients using systemic alpha-1ARA have significantly lower values of DMR thickness and DMR/SMR ratio and smaller pupil diameter when compared with age-matched controls.