Propecia-associated bilateral cataract

[forummaster]

blackwell-synergy.com/doi/ab … 04.00770.x

Propecia-associated bilateral cataract

Abstract:

A 43-year-old man presented suffering from decreasing vision in both eyes for 3 months.

The patient’s visual acuity was 6/20 (non-corrected) in the right eye and 6/10 (−1.75/−1.00 × 91) in the left. Ocular examination of both eyes revealed anterior subcapsular opacities of both lenses with the right eye being more severe than the left.

He had been taking finasteride (Propecia; Merck, Sharp and Dohme) at 1 mg/day for 3 years to treat early stage of androgenic alopecia.

It was highly suspected that finasteride was associated with the anterior subcapsular opacity on the lens, and the patient therefore discontinued use of finasteride.

He underwent uneventful cataract extraction surgery and intraocular lens implantation of the right eye.

One month after cataract surgery in the right eye, the best-corrected visual acuity was right 6/6 (−1.25) and left 6/10 (−2.00/−0.50 × 100).

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of Propecia-associated cataract.

[Mew]

Intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome and finasteride intake.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1805 … d_RVDocSum

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We report 2 male patients who had bilateral cataract surgery. Both patients had features of the intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome (IFIS) in both eyes, and both were taking oral finasteride for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

We conclude that finasteride can be associated with IFIS, so it is important to take detailed medical histories of patients having cataract surgery, paying attention to a history of BPH and its treatment.

PMID: 18053919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Mew]

More info on chorioretinopathy: stlukeseye.com/conditions/CSCR.asp

Signs and Symptoms

• Blurred central vision
• Wavy, distorted vision
• Central blind spot

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Finasteride: First report of central serous chorioretinopathy: case report.

ingentaconnect.com/content/a … 3/art00042

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Source: Reactions, Volume 1, Number 1223, 2008-10-11 , pp. 14-14(1)

Publisher: Adis International

[Mew]

OCULAR SIDE-EFFECTS OF UROLOGICAL PHARMACY
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.08301_3.x/full

Article first published online: 23 DEC 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.08301_3.x

"Sir,

We enjoyed this very informative comment by Ritchie et al.[1] on the ocular side-effects of urological pharmacy. They have thoroughly detailed the optical side-effects of the most commonly used oral urological agents, but it does appear that finasteride is associated with bilateral cataract formation [2] and floppy-iris syndrome at a case-report level [3]. While they suggested that their target audience included non-specialist practitioners as well as urologists, we feel that they should also have, for completness, discussed the ocular side-effects of intravesical therapies."

[Mew]

[Size=4]Finasteride-associated cataract and intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome.[/size]
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011 May 7.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21555201

A 47-year-old man who had been using finasteride for male pattern alopecia for 4 years complained of progressive bilateral blurring of vision. His general health had been good, and he was not on any other long-term medication.

Examination showed bilateral anterior subcapsular cataracts. Phacoemulsification and insertion of intraocular lenses were performed, and both eyes showed features of intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome (IFIS), including undulation and billowing of the iris, iris prolapse, and pupil constriction.

We believe the use of finasteride can be associated with cataract formation and IFIS. Ophthalmologists and physicians prescribing finasteride should be aware of this possible association.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.