Statins linked to reduced risk of glaucoma, study finds

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have identified a potential link between the use of statins, commonly prescribed for cholesterol management, and a reduced risk of developing glaucoma.

An extensive study analyzing data from a global database of 165 million people compared over 210,000 statin users against a non-user control group. The findings indicate that statin use is associated with a 15 percent lower risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.

The research also suggests benefits for patients already diagnosed with the condition. Statin use was linked to a 36 percent lower risk of requiring traditional surgery and a 55 percent lower risk of needing less invasive surgical procedures. Additionally, the need for specific laser treatments was reduced by 60 percent, while the use of pressure-lowering eye drops decreased by 12 percent. Scientist Robert Weinreb noted that while statins are primarily prescribed to lower cholesterol, they may also help prevent or delay the death of nerve cells.