Statin use and the long-term risk of incident cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the association between statin use and long-term incident cataract.

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Methods: Of 3,654 baseline (1992 to 1994) elderly participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES), 2,335 (75% of survivors) were reexamined after five years (1997 to 1999) and 1,952 (76% of survivors) after 10 years (2002 to 2004). Lens photographs were taken and graded using the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. History, physical examination, and fasting blood samples provided data on possible risk factors. Discrete linear logistic models were used to assess the risk of cataract.

Results: After controlling for age, gender, and other factors, statin use was protective for any cataract (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.93), but was not significantly associated with incident nuclear (HR 0.66; CI 0.35 to 1.25), cortical (HR 0.76; CI 0.44 to 1.33), or posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract (HR 1.47; CI 0.70 to 3.08).

Conclusions: Statin use was found to reduce by 50% the risk of cataract development, principally nuclear or cortical cataract subtypes.