Which drugs should you avoid so that you don't get cataracts?

Cataracts are the leading cause of impaired vision. Cataracts occur when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy. A recent study found that one type of cataract, the cortical cataract, may be more likely to form when a patient has taken certain types of commonly used drugs. These types of drugs are all linked to sun-sensitivity. Cortical cataracts form in the lens cortex and gradually spread their spokes from the outside of the lens to the center of the lens. This type of cataract is often found in diabetics. The study, published in the? Archives of Ophthhalmology,? reveals that "sun-sensitizing" medications such as naproxen, ciprofloxacin, glyburide, amitriptyline and hydrochlorothiazide increased the risk by about 26 percent of a person developing a cortical cataract. Researchers caution that much more research needs to be conducted to precisely measure drug dosage and duration and sun exposures before any trustworthy conclusions can be established.* Andrea Schumann Staff Writer