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Associations of selected medications and visual function: the Beaver Dam Eye Study
B E K Klein1, R Klein, M D Knudtson
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53726-2397, USA. kleinb@epi.ophth.wisc.edu
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 19, 2003
Summary
Many common medications negatively impact vision in older adults, affecting daily tasks and quality of life. This study examined drug use and visual function in a population-based sample.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Visual function is critical for daily activities and quality of life.
- The impact of commonly used medications on vision in older adults requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between the use of various drugs and visual functions.
- To determine if drug use correlates with performance-based and self-assessed visual function declines.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, population-based study using data from the 1993-1995 Beaver Dam Eye Study examination phase.
- Recorded current drug use for all participants.
- Assessed performance-based and self-assessed visual functions.
Main Results:
- Multiple drug classes were linked to reduced performance-based visual functions.
- Hypertension medications significantly correlated with poorer visual acuity, near vision, and contrast sensitivity.
- Glaucoma drops and benzodiazepines showed associations with poorer self-assessed visual functions.
Conclusions:
- Common medications are inversely associated with visual functions in middle-aged and older populations.
- These visual changes may impair the ability to perform complex tasks.
- Medication-induced visual decline can negatively affect quality of life.