Reduced risk of developing macular degeneration associated with two common prescription drugs

People who take statins or insulin have a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. (AMD).

The new study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology

and involved almost 40,000 people aged 50 and over. Almost 9,500 people in the study were diagnosed with AMD.

 

Researchers examined data from 14 studies to determine the effect of drugs on the risk of developing AMD. What researchers found was that people taking statins had a 15% reduced risk of developing AMD and people on insulin had a 22% reduced risk of developing the disease.

While researchers were excited about the results, they acknowledge the need for additional studies are needed to further investigate these findings.