Glaucoma, Antidepressants & The Elderly

Researchers from the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario reported on a study at the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) 2011 Annual Meeting in which the results indicated that elderly patients over 66 taking antidepressants were at significantly greater risk of developing Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma (AACG). Depending on the class of antidepressant the risk was as much as 2-fold higher. Many people taking antidepressants complain of visual problems after taking antidepressants and usually it is thought to be related to dry eyes. These findings should make clinicians a bit more aware that ocular complaints might be more serious than that. Although the study was on a large group, it was agreed that it was necessary to be replicated in a randomized, controlled design to be unquestionable.