Do Antidepressants Increase Risk of Cataracts?

SSRI-type antidepressants may be linked to a slightly higher risk of cataracts. That’s the conclusion of a new Canadian study that tracked residents of Quebec. Investigators compared older residents of the province who had cataracts with matched controls who had no cataracts. Based on the statistical analysis, those individuals who were taking Prozac-like antidepressants were roughly 23 percent more likely to come down with cataracts. There do appear to be some differences among antidepressants. Based on these data, Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft seemed unlikely to cause trouble compared to Luvox, Effexor and Paxil. The investigators caution patients not to stop taking their antidepressants based on this research. This is the first study to find a link and further research is essential. They also point out that depression can be life threatening while cataract surgery is now quite safe and highly effective.
[Ophthalmology, published online March 8, 2010]