Bilateral posterior subcapsular cataract due to paroxetine consumption
about a case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70313/2718.7446.v15.n04.197Keywords:
cataracts, paroxetine, SSRIs, antidepressantsAbstract
Objective: Cataracts are one of the main causes of blindness in the world, and although there are several causes of their production, medication is one of them. In our report we will focus, in particular, on that produced by paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Although little is known about the effects produced by SSRIs in the genesis of cataracts, there are cases associated with them.
Case report: A 55-year-old male patient, attended control, without previous ophthalmological history, had as his only personal history a diagnosis of bipolarity associated with depressive syndrome, in treatment with paroxetine (20 mg/day), since 2017. From his ophthalmological examination, the presence of bilateral posterior subcapsular cataract was highlighted, conserving a distant visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes. Given the normality of the rest of the control, the patient and his psychiatrist were informed of the finding and a six-monthly follow-up control was indicated.
Conclusion: As we have observed in this case, paroxetine is associated with the production of cataracts. In turn, there is previously published scientific evidence. Therefore, we highlight the importance of inquiring about this antecedent in the anamnesis. Likewise, this case leads us to reflect on its frequency, its evolution and to ask ourselves: do patients undergoing treatment with paroxetine require follow-up? Is it necessary to suspend treatment after the appearance of opacities?
Downloads
References
Who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment.
Carlson J, McBride K, O’Connor M. Drugs associated with cataract formation represent an unmet need in cataract research. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9: 947659.
Ernst P, Baltzan M, Deschênes J, Suissa S. Low-dose inhaled and nasal corticosteroid use and the risk of cataracts. Eur Respir J 2006; 27: 1168-1174.
Kanthan GL, Wang JJ, Rochtchina E, Mitchell P. Use of antihypertensive medications and topical beta-blockers and the long-term incidence of cataract and cataract surgery. Br J Ophthalmol 2009; 93: 1210-1214.
Klein BE, Klein R, Lee KE, Danforth LG. Drug use and five-year incidence of age-related cataracts: The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology 2001; 108: 1670-1674.
Etminan M, Mikelberg FS, Brophy JM. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the risk of cataracts: a nested case-control study. Ophthalmology 2010; 117: 1251-1255.
Constable PA, Al-Dasooqi D, Bruce R, Prem-Senthil M. A review of ocular complications associated with medications used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Clin Optom (Auckl) 2022; 14: 13-25.
Veglio F, De Sanctis U, Schiavone D et al. Evaluation of serotonin levels in human aqueous humor. Ophthalmologica 1998; 212: 160-163.
Zanon-Moreno V, Melo P, Mendes-Pinto MM et al. Serotonin levels in aqueous humor of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Mol Vis 2008; 14: 2143-2147.
Boerrigter RM, Siertsema JV, Kema IP. Serotonin (5-HT) and the rat’s eye: some pilot studies. Doc Ophthalmol 1992; 82: 141-150.
Erie JC, Brue SM, Chamberlain AM, Hodge DO. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use and increased risk of cataract surgery: a population-based, case-control study. Am J Ophthalmol 2014; 158: 192.e1-197.e1.
Fu Y, Dai Q, Zhu L, Wu S. Antidepressants use and risk of cataract development: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Ophthalmol 2018; 18: 31.
Chou PH, Chu CS, Chen YH et al. Antidepressants and risk of cataract development: a population-based, nested case-control study. J Affect Disord 2017; 215: 237-244.
Dragioti E, Solmi M, Favaro A et al. Association of antidepressant use with adverse health outcomes: a systematic umbrella review. JAMA Psychiatry 2019; 76: 1241-1255.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Consejo Argentino de Oftalmología
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Con esta licencia no se permite un uso comercial de la obra original, ni la generación de obras derivadas. Las licencias Creative Commons permiten a los autores compartir y liberar sus obras en forma legal y segura.
