From the American Academy of Ophthalmology

Nearly 10 years after the link between intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome (IFIS) and systemic α1-antagonists was made, a survey of 350 healthcare providers in California finds that about two-thirds of primary care physicians remain unaware that systemic α1-antagonists such as tamsulosin can complicate cataract surgery. Additionally, 90.1 percent of respondents do not ask patients about their history of cataract symptoms prior to initiating α1-antagonist treatment and only 31.3 percent regularly advise patients to inform their ophthalmologist about taking these drugs. The authors write that the survey underscores the importance of the ophthalmologist’s role in educating prescribing physicians. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, April 2014