Intraocular pressure in schizophrenic patients treated with psychiatric medications.

PURPOSE: In order to assess the occurrence of adverse ocular effects of antipsychotic drugs, we sought to evaluate intraocular pressure of schizophrenic patients treated with psychiatric medications. METHODS: Twenty-eight outpatients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia who met both the inclusion and exclusion criteria were submitted to an ophthalmic evaluation for ocular abnormalities which included intraocular pressure measurement with Goldmann applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Raised intraocular pressure was found in three patients (11%). Abnormality in cup-disc ratio was seen in only one patient with cup-disc ratio asymmetry of 0.4. All these four patients were taking only ziprasidone. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using ziprasidone were found to have abnormalities in both intraocular pressure and cup-disc ratio.

Cataract occurrence in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs.

OBJECTIVE: Typical antipsychotic drugs, mainly phenothiazines, have been associated with cataract formation for over forty years. Recently, there has been a concern about atypical antipsychotic drugs' potential for inducing this lenticular pathology. Accordingly, we sought to determine the cataract rate and other ocular side effects in patients on long-term therapy with antipsychotic drugs. METHOD: Eighty outpatients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia from two settings who met pre determined inclusion criteria were submitted to an ophthalmological evaluation for ocular abnormalities with emphasis in the lens and cornea. They were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 52) comprised patients who had been predominantly on typical antipsychotics for at least two years and group 2 (n = 28) patients who had been predominantly on atypical antipsychotics for at least two years. RESULTS: Cataract was found in 26 patients (33%) with predominance of anterior capsular cataract. The cataract rate among patients from group 1 (40%) was higher than among those from group 2 (18%). Visual acuity was reduced in 21 patients (26%). No changes were observed neither in the cornea nor in the retina. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using antipsychotic drugs should be submitted to a periodic ophthalmological evaluation.

Intraocular pressure in schizophrenic patients treated with psychiatric medications / Pressão intra-ocular em pacientes esquizofrênicos tratados com medicações psiquiátricas

PURPOSE: In order to assess the occurrence of adverse ocular effects of antipsychotic drugs, we sought to evaluate intraocular pressure of schizophrenic patients treated with psychiatric medications. METHODS: Twenty-eight outpatients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia who met both the inclusion and exclusion criteria were submitted to an ophthalmic evaluation for ocular abnormalities which included intraocular pressure measurement with Goldmann applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Raised intraocular pressure was found in three patients (11 percent). Abnormality in cup-disc ratio was seen in only one patient with cup-disc ratio asymmetry of 0.4. All these four patients were taking only ziprasidone. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using ziprasidone were found to have abnormalities in both intraocular pressure and cup-disc ratio.

OBJETIVO: Para avaliar a ocorrência de efeitos adversos oculares dos antipsicóticos, buscamos avaliar a pressão intra-ocular em pacientes esquizofrênicos tratados com medicações psiquiátricas. MÉTODOS: Vinte e oito pacientes tratados ambulatorialmente com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia segundo o DSM-IV que preencheram os critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram submetidos a uma avaliação oftalmológica para pesquisa de alterações oculares que incluiu a medida da pressão intra-ocular com tonometria de aplanação de Goldmann. RESULTADOS: Pressão intra-ocular aumentada foi encontrada em 3 pacientes (11 por cento). Anormalidade na escavação do disco óptico foi observada em apenas um paciente com assimetria de escavação de 0,4. Todos esses quatro pacientes estavam usando apenas ziprasidona. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes em uso de ziprasidona apresentaram anormalidades na pressão intra-ocular e na escavação do disco óptico.

Cataract occurrence in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs / Ocorrência de catarata em pacientes tratados com antipsicóticos

OBJECTIVE: Typical antipsychotic drugs, mainly phenothiazines, have been associated with cataract formation for over forty years. Recently, there has been a concern about atypical antipsychotic drugs' potential for inducing this lenticular pathology. Accordingly, we sought to determine the cataract rate and other ocular side effects in patients on long-term therapy with antipsychotic drugs. METHOD: Eighty outpatients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia from two settings who met pre determined inclusion criteria were submitted to an ophthalmological evaluation for ocular abnormalities with emphasis in the lens and cornea. They were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 52) comprised patients who had been predominantly on typical antipsychotics for at least two years and group 2 (n = 28) patients who had been predominantly on atypical antipsychotics for at least two years. RESULTS: Cataract was found in 26 patients (33 percent) with predominance of anterior capsular cataract. The cataract rate among patients from group 1 (40 percent) was higher than among those from group 2 (18 percent). Visual acuity was reduced in 21 patients (26 percent). No changes were observed neither in the cornea nor in the retina. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using antipsychotic drugs should be submitted to a periodic ophthalmological evaluation.

OBJETIVO: Os antipsicóticos típicos, principalmente as fenotiazinas, têm sido associados à formação de catarata há mais de quarenta anos. Nos últimos anos, tem existido um questionamento acerca do potencial dos antipsicóticos atípicos de induzir essa patologia lenticular. Neste estudo, buscamos determinar a taxa de catarata e de outros efeitos oculares adversos em pacientes em uso de antipsicóticos a longo prazo. MÉTODO: Oitenta pacientes tratados ambulatorialmente com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia segundo o DSM-IV, de dois centros, que preencheram os critérios de inclusão pré determinados foram submetidos a uma avaliação oftalmológica para pesquisa de alterações oculares com ênfase no cristalino e na córnea. Eles foram divididos em dois grupos: o grupo 1 (n = 52) era formado por pacientes que tinham usado predominantemente antipsicóticos típicos por pelo menos dois anos e o grupo 2 (n = 28) por pacientes que tinham usado predominantemente antipsicóticos atípicos por pelo menos dois anos. RESULTADOS: Catarata foi encontrada em 26 pacientes (33 por cento) com predomínio de catarata capsular anterior. A taxa de catarata entre os pacientes do grupo 1 (40 por cento) foi maior do que naqueles do grupo 2 (18 por cento). A acuidade visual estava reduzida em 21 pacientes (26 por cento). Não foram encontradas alterações nem na córnea nem na retina. CONCLUSÕES: Pessoas em uso de antipsicóticos devem ser submetidas à avaliação oftalmológica periódica.