Statin Use Comes with an Increased Risk of Cataracts

"Few classes of drugs have had such a transformative effect on the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as have statins, prescribed to reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol," notes Science Daily. "However, some clinicians have ongoing concerns regarding the potential for lens opacities (cataracts) as a result of statin use. In an article, researchers report increased risk for cataracts in patients treated with statins. An accompanying editorial discusses the history of statins and positions this new study in the context of conflicting results from previous analyses of purported adverse effects due to statin use." Read more.

Statin Use May Lead to Cataracts

"New research suggests that use of statins, a class of drugs taken by millions of Americans with high cholesterol, is linked to a higher risk for developing cataracts," reports Medical News Today. "Dr. Jessica Leuschen, of the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas, and colleagues report their findings in a paper published online in JAMA Ophthalmology." Read more.

Statins May Prevent Cataracts

"Statins lower the rate of cataract by 20 percent, according to research presented at the ESC Congress today by Professor John B. Kostis from New Jersey, USA," according to a Science Daily post. "The risk of cataract was reduced by 50 percent when treatment was initiated in younger individuals (in their 40s) and the duration of therapy was longer (e.g. up to 14 years)." Read more.

Statins May Reduce a Common Form of Glaucoma

"People who take statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease are less likely to be diagnosed with the most common form of glaucoma, according to a nationwide study of more than 300,000 patients," reports Science Daily. "A University of Michigan School of Medicine research team, directed by Joshua Stein, MD, MS, found that the risk for glaucoma was reduced by eight percent in patients who took statins continuously for two years, compared with patients who did not take statins. The study, the largest to date on the topic, is published in the October issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology." Read more.

Statins May Lead to Cataracts

"Patients using cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may be at increased risk of developing age-related cataracts, according to a study -- 'Age-related Cataract Is Associated with Type 2 Diabetes and Statin Use,' in the August issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry." That's the report from Science Daily. Read more.