The potential ocular phototoxicity of antidepressant drugs

Light Therapy is a new treatment for patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a depressive state occurring during the winter as a result of decreased sunlight. The treatment involves placing the patient in front of a light box (2-10,000 lux) for approximately 30 min to 1 hour per day during the winter months. Although there have been no reports of damage to the eye from this treatment with light alone there is increased risk in light damage to the lens and retina if these depressed patients are being treated with antidepressant/neuroleptic drugs concurrently with their light therapy. As we have been previously reported certain drugs, having absorptions longer than 295 nm can act as photosensitizers resulting in enhanced light damage to the eye. Using a screening method developed by Roberts, we examined the potential phototoxicity of a variety of antidepressant and neuroleptic drugs.