The effects of tamsulosin and alfuzosin on iris morphology: an ultrasound biomicroscopic comparison

AbstractContext: It is well known that Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists affect the receptors in the prostate and also iris dilator muscle, leading to loss of iris muscle tone.Objective: To compare morphological alterations of iris secondary to tamsulosin and alfuzosin use.Participants: Patients included in the study were grouped as follows: 16 patients treated with tamsulosin (Group 1), 14 patients treated with alfuzosin (Group 2) and 18 untreated controls (Group 3).Materials and methods: All patients underwent ultrasound biomicroscopic and pupillometric examination. Iris thickness was measured at the dilator muscle region (DMR; measured at half of the distance between the scleral spur and the pupillary margin) and sphincter muscle region (SMR; Standardized at 0.75 mm from the pupillary margin). DMR/SMR was also calculated for each patient. Differences among groups were analysed. Main outcome measures were DMR, SMR, DMR/SMR and pupillary diameter.Results: Mean duration of treatments were 2.4 ± 0.96...