Intraoperative Floppy-Iris Syndrome and Finasteride Intake

The article reports on two male patients who had bilateral cataract surgery and were taking oral finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Both patients had features of the intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome (IFIS) in both eyes. The article concludes 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. The article also discusses the mechanisms of action of finasteride and alpha-antagonists, which are commonly used for the treatment of BPH, and their association with IFIS. The authors recommend that a history of the presence of BPH and its treatment be part of the routine preoperative questionnaire for cataract surgery.