Statins linked to lower glaucoma risk and reduced need for surgery

A large-scale observational study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has linked the use of statins, commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, to a reduced risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.

Researchers utilized the TriNetX global database, analyzing records from approximately 165 million people. The study compared over 210,000 statin users with a matched control group of 210,000 non-users. Findings indicated that statin use was associated with a 15% lower risk of developing open-angle glaucoma over a five-year period.

Furthermore, the research examined patients with existing glaucoma to determine the impact on disease progression. Among more than 30,000 patients already diagnosed with the condition, statin use was linked to a significantly lower need for intensive treatments. Specifically, statin users showed a 36% lower risk of incisional glaucoma surgery, a 55% lower risk of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), and a 60% lower risk of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). Statin users were also 11% less likely to require additional pressure-lowering eye drops.