Statins Reduce Risk Of Glaucoma By Eight Percent

Statins are a class of drugs used to lower and manage the cholesterol levels of the human body.

Statins lowers cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme that controls production of cholesterol in the liver. Statin benefits those with cholesterol problems since it targets LDL (Low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol which is the "bad" type of cholesterol.

High levels of cholesterol in the body can cause the hardening of arteris called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can lead to more serious conditions such as restricted blood flow to the heart, stroke, and heart attack.

Patients with cardivascular disease are often prescribed with statins. In the United States alone, there are 20 million users of statins making it the best selling pharmaceutical in history. Sales of the drug in 2011 reached a record US$ 130 Billion.

In Feb 2012, the FDA warned statin users of potential risks. They announced a change in safety labels noting that use of statins may raise levels of blood sugar and could cause memory loss. In 2010, a study showed that statins use increases risk of diabetes by 9 percent.

Despite this, doctors still believe that the benefits of statins to patients with cardiovascular conditions outweigh its risks.

National study finds reduced glaucoma risk in patients who take statins

People who take statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease are less likely to be diagnosed with the most common form of glaucoma, according to a nationwide study of more than 300,000 patients. A University of Michigan School of Medicine research team, directed by Joshua Stein, MD, MS, found that the risk for glaucoma was reduced by eight percent in patients who took statins continuously for two years, compared with patients who did not take statins. The study, the largest to date on the topic, is published in the October issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Eye Treatment to Protect Against Glaucoma Being Studied

Scientists demonstrate that administration of a therapeutically relevant x-ray treatment to a single eye can protect it against glaucoma in the future.

Glaucoma is a disorder that pertains to a group of eye conditions that damages the optic nerve. It is characterized by the dysfunction and loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). A retinal ganglion cell (RGC) is a type of neuron located near the inner surface (the ganglion cell layer) of the retina of the eye. The RGC carries visual information from the eye to the brain.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of visual loss. It is a complex disease that is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Major risk factors include older age and higher intraocular pressure (IOP). Current treatments act to lower IOP but are not effective in many cases. Although glaucoma is estimated to affect over 60 million people, more work is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms that damage RGCs.

There are four major types of Glaucoma:

• Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma: The most common type of glaucoma and occurs over time. The IOP pushes on the optic nerve.
  
• Angle-closure (acute) glaucoma: Treated as an emergency, this type of glaucoma occurs when the exit of the aqueous humor fluid is suddenly blocked. This causes a quick, severe, and painful rise in the pressure in the eye.
  
• Congenital glaucoma: Present at birth and is caused by abnormal eye development.
  
• Secondary glaucoma: Caused by drugs, disease, and trauma.

Treatment for glaucoma involves relieving the intraocular pressure on the optic nerve. Depending on the type of glaucoma, treatment may be through eye drops, laser therapy (iridotomy), or surgery.