Share

The subjects of the study were people in Quebec province who were already being followed as part of a heart disease project.  About 20,000 cataract cases were reviewed, along with a large number of "control" cases.

According to the researchers, "This study showed for the first time that SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) use may be associated with an increase in the risk of cataracts."  It was current use that seemed to contribute; there was no increased risk for past use of anti-depression medication.

In previous studies, cataract development was linked also to a history of high blood pressure and the use of antidiabetics or steroids; women are also at higher risk.

One worrisome issue in this study is that they did not control for participants' use of tobacco.  They could not exclude the possibility that the observed association between the drugs and cataracts may be the result of smoking. 

Smoking has definite and negative effect on vision, in particular as a cause of macular degeneration.  But a lot more research on anti-depressants and cataracts needs to be done.