Asthma drugs linked to cataracts

Researchers in Montreal have found that elderly patients with asthma and other chronic breathing difficulties who take preventative medication face an increased risk of developing cataracts, according to a report in this month’s European Respiratory Journal.

Senior author Dr Samy Suissa, an epidemiologist at McGill University Health Centre, said: ‘We found that people over the age of 65 who take a cortisone-like medication called inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) to lower their risk of asthma or COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] attacks are actually raising their risk of developing cataracts.

‘This important information to physicians and patients will help in the management of patients using these drugs.’