Statins can slash risk of eye disease

People taking statins for two years or more had an eight per cent lower risk of developing glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness, compared with those who did not, a study has found. Statins are taken by millions every day to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and published in the journal Ophthalmology, looked at people over 60 who took statins to control high cholesterol. It is thought statins may help by improving blood flow to parts of the eye and reducing high pressure, which can trigger the condition. “While more research is needed, we hope our results may contribute to saving the sight of thousands who are predisposed to glaucoma,” the paper quoted study leader Dr Joshua Stein as saying. ANI