Femoxetine and eye function. A study of possible anticholinergic side effects

A pilot study of the possible anticholinergic side effects of femoxetine comprised eight depressive patients (age 42-65), followed up for a month, and five healthy volunteers (age 26-39), who received medication for a week. As judged primarily from ophthalmic parameters (accomodation, lacrimation, pupil size, intraocular pressure, exe motility, visual acuity and visual fields, slit lamp examination and ophthalmoscopy), there was no indication of anticholinergic side effects of the drug. According to Schirmer-1-test (tear wetting), the rather dry eyes of depressive patients even improved somewhat during medication.