Statins in Neuro-ophthalmology

ABSTRACT

Statins are effective and well-tolerated hypolipidaemic agents which have been increasingly studied for their pleiotropic immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Statins have potential therapeutic benefit in a range of neuro-ophthalmological conditions but may also induce or exacerbate certain neurological disorders. This literature review examines evidence from clinical and in vitro studies assessing the effects of statins in myasthenia gravis, myopathy, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumour cerebri), migraine, giant cell arteritis, Bell’s palsy, ocular ischaemia, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Myasthenia gravis
• myopathy
• multiple sclerosis
• optic neuritis
• migraine
• stroke

Declaration of interest statement

KGO and SLW have a patent on topical Atorvastatin as a novel tear film stabiliser.

Additional information

Funding

SLW is supported by a Sydney Medical School Foundation fellowship.