Taking Aspirin Does Not Decrease Risk of Vision Loss in Elderly

Aspirin is a cheap over-the-counter-medication that is often hailed for its benefits in reducing the risk of heart attack in patients. However, aspirin does not? decrease the risk of vision loss in elderly patients. A study published in the December 2009 issue of Ophthalmology concluded that aspirin had no notable effect on the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study took place over several years and was designed to examine whether taking low-dose aspirin on alternate days affects the development of AMD. The study did utilize data from a larger study on aspirin. The study involved 39,876 healthy, female health professionals aged 45 years or older and followed them for an average of 10 years. While the study findings are only applicable to women, it is noted that AMD is more common in women than in men. Also, there are risks associated with taking daily or alternate-day aspirin and those risks should be weighed against the benefits. Andrea Schumann Staff Writer