To evaluate the influence of α₁-adrenergic blocker on phacoemulsification and the preventive effect of adrenergic blocker (AB) cessation before cataract surgery.

A prospective study was performed involving 92 eyes of 60 patients undergoing cataract surgery. Cases were divided into three groups: the use of α₁AB with discontinuance before surgery (32 eyes), the use of α₁AB with no discontinuance before surgery before surgery (31 eyes), and eyes not treated with α₁AB (29 eyes). Clinical measurements and intraoperative parameters were compared among the three groups.

Preoperative maximum pupil diameters of patients treated with α₁AB were smaller than those of patients not administered α₁AB ( p = 0.027 and p = 0.018, respectively). The incidence of IFIS in the patients using of α₁AB with discontinuance before surgery was 6.25%, and that in the patients using of α₁AB with no discontinuance before surgery was 6.45%. There was no IFIS outbreak in the patients not using of α₁AB. We noted no significant differences in absolute phaco time during phacoemulsification ( p = 0.207) or in the three-month postoperative best corrected visual acuities among the three groups ( p = 0.189).

Importantly, there appears to be a significant correlation between α₁AB and the development of IFIS. To prevent complications of IFIS, surgeons should be vigilant in identifying patients taking α₁AB, checking the degree of preoperative pupil dilatation and anticipating intraoperative difficulties. In addition, appropriate modifications should be made to the surgical strategy. Furthermore there was no benefit to discontinuing α₁AB treatment before cataract surgery in the prevention of IFIS.