| Medications linked to development of cataracts identified; aspirin on list WESTPORT, Oct 09 (Reuters) Use of aspirin and of a number of other medications is associated with an increased risk of cataract development, according to results of The Blue Mountains Eye Study, a large, population-based study conducted in Australia. In the September issue of Ophthalmology, Drs. Robert G. Cumming and Paul Mitchell, of the University of Sydney, report results of the study, which involved more than 3,600 people, median age 65 years. "Most medications...studied were not associated with cataract, including allopurinol, cholesterol-lowering medications, thiazide diuretics, furosemide, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs," the team reports. An apparent association between cataract development and use of phenothiazines, amiodarone, aspirin and mepacrine did emerge in the study. After adjusting for potential confounders, use of aspirin and use of the antimalarial, mepacrine, were associated with development of posterior subcapsular cataract. Use of phenothiazine was associated with nuclear cataract and use of amiodarone was associated with cortical cataract. Data analysis revealed a higher prevalence of posterior subcapsular cataract in long-term aspirin users--those taking the drug for 10 or more years--than in either nonusers or short-term users. Not only does aspirin apparently not protect against cataract as has been previously suggested, but "....[t]he possibility of a harmful effect of long-term aspirin also warrants attention," the researchers conclude. Ophthalmology 1998;105:1751-1758. |
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