The human lens after 48 weeks of treatment with lovastatin

Abstract

To the Editor: Because of early concerns about lens opacities induced by lovastatin,1 the lenses of patients with hypercholesterolemia were evaluated as part of a broader study that assessed the long-term efficacy and safety of lovastatin. We summarize here the ophthalmologic findings for 8245 such patients (total cholesterol level, 6.21 to 7.76 mmol per liter [240 to 300 mg per deciliter]) on a cholesterol-lowering diet who participated in a 362-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study lasting 48 weeks. The study design and base-line characteristics of the patients have been described elsewhere.2 In brief, five groups, each composed of approximately 1650. ©..