Overactive Bladder
Treatment & Dry Eye Problems
What does having an
overactive bladder have to do with your eyes? Although you may be able to get to the toilet in time when you sense an
urge to urinate, unexpected frequent urination and nighttime urination can
disrupt your life. Overactive bladder (OAB),
also known as overactive bladder syndrome, is a condition where there is a
frequent feeling of needing to urinate to a degree that it negatively
affects a person's life. The frequent need to urinate may occur during the
day, at night, or both. Overactive bladder is estimated to occur in
7-27% of men and 9-43% of women. It becomes more common with age. Management of
overactive bladder often begins with behavioral strategies, such as fluid
schedules, adjusting the timing of urination and bladder-holding techniques
using your pelvic floor muscles. If these initial efforts don't help enough
with your overactive bladder symptoms your doctor may prescribe medications to
help. BUT, these overactive bladder medications can cause dry eye symptoms. Researchers
reported in the International Urogynecology
Journal on108 women suffering from OAB who were
started on oral medications to help with their symptoms. The researchers
carefully evaluated their tear film and symptoms over three months of starting
the medications. They found that there was a continuing worsening of the
sensation of eye dryness, grittiness and burning along with observable decrease
in the quality and quantity of the tear film. Thus, if you suffer from OAB
and your doctor prescribes oral medications to help you, please bring this to
our attention so we can offer help for your dry eyes before the symptoms become
too uncomfortable.
Overactive
bladder medications are known to cause or worsen dry eye problems. If you
suffer from OAB and start one of these medication please to be to call Alabama Eye & Cataract
Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye &
Cataract Center, Google+ or
www.facebook.com/alabamaeyeandcataractcenter.
Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract
Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands,
1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB
Medicine eye doctors and eye specialists.
