Statins Linked with Higher Risk of Cataract

Statins, the popular cholesterol lowering drugs, can increase the risk of developing cataract, a new study has found.

Statins are used to lower the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in the body.  In the U.S., some 30 million people use the drug.  Statin-use has been known to cause muscle-related problems in 10 to 15 percent of all users. A recent study showed that statin lowered glaucoma risk - a common form of eye disease. Another study also added that statins can raise the risk of diabetes type-2.

In the present study, researchers at San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas, and colleagues found that statin use could be associated with cataracts - one of the main causes for poor vision and blindness in old Americans.

Cataract is the clouding of the lens that affects vision. The condition is common among people aged 80 or older.

The present study was based on data from over 14,000 men and women. Researchers found that people using statins had a 27 percent higher chance of developing cataract.

"We tried to slice the data in different directions and look at our findings from different angles and approaches of analyses to ensure its consistency," Mansi said. "Consistently, statin use was associated with higher risk of cataract," said Dr. Ishak Mansi, of the VA North Texas Health System in Dallas and lead author of the study, according to HealthDay.

Experts added that people should talk to their healthcare provider about the medication, but not discontinue it altogether.

"Effective medications are expected to have side effects; it is much better to do your best to lower your own risk of cardiovascular disease by stopping smoking and keeping physically active than to take a pill to lower your risk of heart disease," he told HealthDay.

The study is published in the Journal JAMA Ophthalmology.