The study, based on a database of more than 200,000 Quebec residents aged 65 and older, showed statistical relationships between a diagnosis of cataracts or cataract surgery and the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as between cataracts and specific drugs within that class.

Published online today in the journal Ophthalmology, the study does not prove causation but only reveals an association between the use of SSRIs and the development of cataracts. The study could not account for the possibility of smoking – which is a risk factor for cataracts – and additional population-based studies are needed to confirm these findings, the scientists say.

This study of statistical relationships is the first to establish a link between this class of drugs and cataracts in humans. Prior studies in animal models had demonstrated that SSRIs could increase the likelihood of developing the condition.

“When you look at the trade-offs of these drugs, the benefits of treating depression – which can be life-threatening – still outweigh the risk of.

developing cataracts, which are treatable and relatively benign,” says Dr. Mahyar Etminan, main author of the article, a scientist and clinical pharmacist at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and an assistant professor in the Dept. of Medicine at UBC.

Scientists found patients taking SSRIs were overall 15 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cataracts or to have cataract surgery.

The degree of risk among specific and different types of SSRIs varied considerably. Taking fluvoxamine (Luvox) led to a 51 per cent higher chance of having cataract surgery, and venlafaxine (Effexor) carried a 34 per cent higher risk. No connection could be made between fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft) and having cataract surgery.

Co-author Dr. Frederick S. Mikelberg, professor and head of the Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UBC and head of the Dept. of Ophthalmology at Vancouver General Hospital, notes that the average time to develop cataracts while taking SSRIs was almost two years.

“While these results are surprising, and might inform the choices of psychiatry experts when prescribing SSRIs for their patients, they should not be cause for alarm among people taking these medications,” Mikelberg says.

SSRIs, the third most prescribed class of drugs in the world, block the uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin by neurons in the brain, thereby stimulating more impulses between neurons. Cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens that commonly occurs in older people, are routinely treated through surgery. More than 1.5 million people undergo surgery for the condition every year in North America, as per the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.

Airborne allergens such as pollen, mold, dust or pet dander can wreak havoc on your eyes, making this time of year almost unbearable. Most individuals with sensitivity to grass, weed or tree pollen suffer from allergic conjunctivitis which is the most common eye allergy. Eye allergies develop when your immune system is low or compromised, leading to a reaction to that allergen. What causes eye allergies, you may ask? When an allergen comes into contact with your eyes, your eyes release histamine or other chemicals that cause them to swell, become itchy, red and watery.

“Over the years, I have seen numerous patients suffering from eye allergies,” said Dr. Mark Lynn, owner/operator of more than 45 Dr. Bizer’s VisionWorld and Doctor’s VisionWorks and Doctor’s ValuVision in five states. “I would like to offer a few tips for people to take into consideration to help prevent some symptoms of eye allergies so they can enjoy the outdoors this spring.”

The best solution is to try to avoid coming in contact with those allergens. On days with a high pollen count, stay inside with the air conditioner to help filter out those allergens. If you go outside, wear wraparound sunglasses to help shield your eyes from the pollen and drive with your windows rolled up. Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes and always remember to wash your hands to remove any potential pollen you may have come in contact with. If you suffer from allergies to mold, dust mites or pet dander, you can also take steps such as keeping the humidity low in your house or using a dehumidifier to reduce molds. Wash bed linens frequently in hot water to rid them of pet hair and mites. Clean floors, bathrooms, kitchens and other surfaces regularly with a damp rag rather than a dry dusting to rid your home of dust and dander particles.

Despite best efforts to avoid coming in contact with allergens such as pollen, mold and pet dander, many people may still suffer eye allergy symptoms.

“As an optometrist for more than 25 years, I recommend making an appointment with an eye care professional if your eye allergy symptoms persist,” said Dr. Lynn. “Your optometrist will be able to help treat the condition with prescription medication, such as medicated eye drops or oral medication.”

There are a variety of prescription eye drops which can be used to treat allergy symptoms. Antihistamine eye drops can reduce itching, redness and swelling for quick relief. Mast cell stabilizers can prevent the release of histamines in your eyes which cause the allergy symptoms in the first place. The newest available eye drops to help treat and prevent eye allergies have a combination of antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers.

If you are a contact lens wearer, allergy season can cause discomfort. Pollen and other allergens can often get on your lenses causing irritations. Check with your optometrist about proper eye drops to help flush your eyes and keep your contacts clean. Not all drops are suitable for contacts. Perhaps consider daily disposable contacts. By replacing your contacts daily, you can avoid irritating build up on your lenses.

If you are unsure if you suffer from eye allergies here are a few questions to consider:

These are all characteristics of eye allergies and you should consult your optometrist for proper diagnosis and a treatment plan. There is no reason to suffer season after season due to eye allergies when treatment options are available. Take control of your allergy problems and get outside this spring and summer.

In focus groups conducted by NEI in 2005, the majority of participants reported that though they consider eyesight to be important, they take it for granted. In surveys conducted the same year by the NEI’s National Eye Health Education Program and the Lions Club International Foundation, American adults noted that the loss of eyesight would have an extreme impact on their daily lives — though more than 25 percent said their last eye examination was more than two years prior, and 9 percent had never had an eye exam.

Unfortunately, an estimated 14 million Americans are currently visually impaired due to eye diseases and disorders, and this number continues to grow as the population ages. Of adults aged 40 and older, more than 4 million currently have diabetic eye complications, more than 2 million have glaucoma, and more than 1.75 million have age-related macular degeneration. Millions of Americans have common, correctible vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism. The prevalence of nearsightedness alone has increased 66 percent in the past 30 years, according to a 2009 NEI study.

Recent investigations by NEI scientists have indicated that many eye diseases impact certain races and ethnicities more often, a key observation for eye care professionals and for members of the general public who have the ability to take charge of their eye health. For example, African-Americans have about a 12 percent risk of glaucoma, which affects peripheral vision. This is more than twice the risk of non-Hispanic white Americans. Both Asian-Americans and Hispanics have a risk of about 6.5 percent.

Another major NEI-supported study recently determined the first estimates of visual impairment and eye disease development in Latinos, the largest and fastest-growing minority population in the United States. Researchers found that Latinos have higher incidence rates of visual impairment, blindness, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts than non-Hispanic whites. The same scientists previously showed that more than 60 percent of eye disease in Latinos remains undiagnosed.

The best way for any person, regardless of their ethnicity, to detect vision problems at the earliest, most treatable stages, is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This simple, painless procedure allows an eye care professional to examine the eye through an enlarged pupil and gain a more complete look at any changes in eye health.

Comprehensive dilated eye exams can reveal common and correctable refractive errors as well as eye diseases that have no or few early warning signs, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Early detection of risk factors for these and other blinding eye conditions can lead to earlier treatment with vision-saving therapies that NEI researchers have developed over the past decades.

For example, scientists have shown that laser therapy is effective in preserving sight in those with diabetic eye disease, and recent studies indicate that additional drugs may lead to even better vision. Another study revealed that high levels of antioxidant vitamins plus zinc reduce the risk of the progression of and vision loss from age-related macular degeneration. Researchers also found that eye drops used to treat high eye pressure reduced the development of glaucoma by more than 50 percent in people who are at a high risk for the condition.

Join NEI in making vision a health priority for the nation. To find more information about Healthy Vision Month and resources for raising eye health awareness, including e-cards, educational handouts, and teaching tools, visit . For additional information on eye diseases and disorders, visit .

The National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, leads the federal government’s research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs that result in the development of sight-saving treatments. For more information, visit .

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit .

About the Study

A total of 175 soft contact lens wearers ages 17 to 30 years who wore lenses for the past ten years participated in this online survey, which compared the self-reported comfort, adverse events, and compliance of patients who were fitted in contact lenses as a child (ages 12 years and younger) to that of patients fitted as teenagers (ages 13 to 19 years). Of those surveyed, 49 percent were fitted as a child and 51 percent were fitted as a teenager.

Nearly 25 percent of both child fits and teen fits were able to wear contact lenses for as many hours as they wanted. In addition both child fits and teen fits wore their lenses for more than 14 hours per day (14.8 vs. 14.7), of which more than 13 hours were comfortable.

Approximately 32 percent of child fits reported currently rubbing their lenses and 42 percent reported rinsing their lenses when cleaning them compared to 35 percent who reported rubbing and 45 percent who reported rinsing their lenses among the teen fits. The proportion of child fits and teen fits who replace their case every six months or more often was 53 percent in each group.

“The numbers on rubbing and rinsing of lenses are heartening because although we’d like to see higher percentages, they are higher than those reported in other contact lens compliance studies,” explains Dr. Walline. “Rubbing and rinsing of the lens surface can help maximize lens performance and minimize any adverse events.”

The study was supported by funding from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

Source: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology