Anterior segment, static and dynamic pupillography changes in patients using different types of alpha-1 blockers

To investigate anterior segment and pupillary changes in patients with BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) using different types of alpha-1 blockers.

The right eye of male patients using tamsulosin, siladosin, alfuzosin or doxazosin, and the right eye of male subjects in the control group were measured in the study. Anterior segment and pupillography measurements were performed using a Scheimpflug imaging technique of Sirius device. Central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber angle (ACA), anterior chamber volume (ACV), scotopic, mesopic and photopic pupil sizes and dynamic pupil sizes at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 s (s) were measured.

Thirty-three patients using tamsulosin, 32 patients using siladosin, 31 patients using alfuzosin and 30 patients using doxazosin were compared with 34 patients in a control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in age, CCT, CV, ACD, ACA, ACV, static pupillography under mesopic and photopic conditions. For three of the groups there was no statistically significant difference from the control group for either scotopic or dynamic pupillography, however pupil size was significantly smaller in the doxazosin group under both static and dynamic conditions.

The alpha-1 blockers included in this study were those most commonly used in clinical practice. Our results showed that, as aspected, alpha-1 blockers do not change the anterior segment. Three of the groups showed no abnormal pupil behaviour, but the diameter was significantly smaller in the doxazosin group.