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.
Dr. Jessica Leuschen, of the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas, and colleagues report their findings in a paper published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cataracts, a predominantly age-related condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, is the leading cause of vision loss in the US.
Studies like this are especially important because as the US population ages, the incidence of cataracts is likely to increase. So any modifiable risk factors should be a public health concern, the researchers explain in their background information.
They also say previous studies that have looked at the link between statin use and cataracts have produced conflicting results. Some say there is an increased risk, others say there is not, and some show inconsistent associations.
For instance, the results of a large review of published research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2013, found that statins lower risk of cataracts, while an earlier study published in the August 2012 issue of Optometry and Vision Science suggested statin use is linked to increased risk of cataracts.
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