A cohort study of the ocular safety of anti-ulcer drugs

1 Recently, some cases have been reported where intravenous use of omeprazole was followed by loss of vision. We followed up a cohort of close to 140 000 persons during periods of treatment and non-treatment with five antiulcer drugs. 2 The relative risk of vascular disorders of the eye during use of omeprazole compared with non-use was 1.8 (95% CI 0.5-6.0). Use of other anti-ulcer drugs was associated with a similar risk of vascular disorders. The relative risk associated with current use of any anti-ulcer drug was 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.4). We did not find a single case of optic inflammatory disorder during treatment with any of the five anti-ulcer drugs. 3 These results do not suggest a major increased risk for vascular or inflammatory disorders of the eye associated with use of omeprazole or other anti-ulcer drugs.