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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors linked to potential higher risk for cataracts
Ophthalmology. 2010;doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.11.042.
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were associated with an increased risk for cataracts, a large pharmacoepidemiologic study found, but the study did not control for cigarette smoking.
"A possible association was found between current exposure to [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors], especially fluvoxamine and venlafaxine, and a future diagnosis of cataracts," the study authors said. "The possibility that this observation may be the result of the effect of smoking, which could not be controlled for in the study, cannot be excluded."
The nested case-control study examined a cohort of 18,784 cases and 187,840 controls in Quebec. Patients had undergone a coronary revascularization procedure between 1995 and 2004. Each case of cataract diagnosed by an ophthalmologist was matched to 10 controls for index date, age and cohort entry.
The study measured crude and adjusted rate ratios and corresponding confidence intervals for current use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
It found that adjusted rate ratios of cataract occurring in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors users measured 1.15 (95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.23). Highest risk for developing cataract occurred in fluvoxamine cases (rate ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 1.80), the authors said.
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