Autonomic: tamsulosin and floppy iris syndrome: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Autonomic: tamsulosin and floppy iris syndrome

Sample item

A 68-year-old man on tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia is listed for cataract surgery. What should the ophthalmologist anticipate?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome

Alpha-1A blockade relaxes the iris dilator muscle, leading to a flaccid iris, progressive miosis and prolapse during phacoemulsification. Surgeons should be told about current or past tamsulosin use.

Option by option

  • A. Exaggerated mydriasis

    The pupil dilates poorly rather than excessively.

  • B. Delayed corneal healing

    Corneal healing is not specifically affected.

  • C. Sudden postoperative angle closure

    Angle closure is not the expected complication.

  • D. Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Tamsulosin is the classic cause of floppy iris syndrome.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is D, Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome. Alpha-1A blockade relaxes the iris dilator muscle, leading to a flaccid iris, progressive miosis and prolapse during phacoemulsification.

Why is "Exaggerated mydriasis" not the answer?

The pupil dilates poorly rather than excessively.

Why is "Delayed corneal healing" not the answer?

Corneal healing is not specifically affected.

Why is "Sudden postoperative angle closure" not the answer?

Angle closure is not the expected complication.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Autonomic: tamsulosin and floppy iris syndrome in Pharmacology. Surgeons should be told about current or past tamsulosin use.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Autonomic: tamsulosin and floppy iris syndrome?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.