Statins may reduce the risk of developing cataract, late AMD

Statins may have protective effects on the development of both cataract and age-related macular degeneration, according to results from a population-based study.

Jennifer S.L. Tan, MD, and colleagues at the Center for Vision Research at the University of Sydney, Australia, examined the relationship between statin use and the long-term incidence of both cataract and AMD. All study participants were from the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

Out of 3,654 participants age 49 years or older at baseline, investigators re-examined 2,335 participants at 5 years and 1,952 at 10 years. Evaluations included stereoscopic macular photographs, which were graded using the Wisconsin Age-related Maculopathy Grading System, and lens photographs, graded using the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System.

Researchers determined possible risk factors based on data from patient history, physical examination and fasting blood samples. They also used discrete linear logistic models to assess the risk of incident AMD and cataract.

Their findings are reported in two studies published in the April issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Tan and colleagues found that, compared with non-users, statin users had a reduced risk of developing indistinct soft drusen, which is associated with the onset of late AMD, according to the AMD study.

"Statin use was not significantly associated with overall early AMD incidence, but was protective for indistinct soft drusen, a key late AMD precursor lesion," the authors said.

After controlling for such factors as age and gender, the use of statins also reduced the risk of developing all types of cataract, although it was not significantly associated with incident nuclear, cortical or posterior subcapsular cataract, the study authors reported.

"Statin use was found to reduce by 50% the risk of cataract development, principally nuclear or cortical cataract subtypes," the authors said.