SSRI, Cataract Link

Americans are increasingly interested in using pharmaceuticals to address depression or anxiety, according to a new survey by Consumer Reports (CR); however, older adults may be putting the health of their eyes at risk, reported Canadian researchers in another study.

Consumer Reports survey of 1,500 subscribers found nearly 80 percent of those seeking treatment for mental health concerns were prescribed antidepressants. The most popular drugs used are the older, less expensive selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which also had fewer side effects reported than newer serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). However, talk therapy worked well for 91 percent of participants, making it a positive first step before moving to medication.

Trying out talk therapy may also preserve good vision, as a study reported in Ophthalmology found the use of SSRIs increased the risk for developing cataracts among seniors by approximately 15 percent. The research team out of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute analyzed data from almost 19,000 patients over age 65, and compared information to data from 190,000 men and women not taking antidepressants. The strongest increase in cataract risk was seen among current users of SSRIs, with the highest elevated risk of 39 percent associated with use of fluvoxamine. Researchers noted more research is needed, although the link may be because the eyes lens has serotonin receptors, whereby excess serotonin could lead to lens opacity.