US Pharm. 2013;38(10):6.
Dallas, TX—A recent study has found that patients who took statins were more likely to develop cataracts compared to those who did not. Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Dallas VA Medical Center in Texas analyzed data from the medical records of 30- and 85-year-olds between 2003 and 2005. They found that about 34% of statin users were diagnosed with cataracts, compared to about 10% of people not taking statins. The risk of developing cataracts increased with the length of time an individual took the drug. One theory is that the body needs high levels of cholesterol to maintain a clear lens and statins may interfere with the cells that control that process.
To comment on this article, contact rdavidson@uspharmacist.com.
