A new study from the UK suggests that a widely used blood pressure medicine—Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)—may be linked to a higher risk of glaucoma, an eye disease that can lead to vision loss if not treated early.
This research, led by Dr. Alan Kastner and his team at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London, looked at the health records of over 427,000 adults to uncover this possible connection.
Out of all the participants, about 33,000 were taking CCBs. These drugs are commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure by helping blood vessels relax and improve blood flow.
But the study found that people taking CCBs were more likely to have glaucoma, even after adjusting for age, lifestyle, and other health conditions. Interestingly, this risk wasn’t found in people using other types of blood pressure medicine.
One of the most surprising parts of the study was that the increased risk of glaucoma occurred even when the pressure inside the eye—normally a key factor in glaucoma—was not elevated. This suggests that CCBs may be affecting eye health in a way we don’t yet fully understand.
Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it typically has no symptoms in the early stages. Many people don’t know they have it until the damage is already done. The disease harms the optic nerve, which carries signals from the eye to the brain.
Once the damage happens, it can’t be reversed. That’s why catching glaucoma early through regular eye exams is so important—especially for those at higher risk.
High blood pressure is another condition that often goes unnoticed until serious problems like heart disease or stroke occur. Millions of people take medicines like CCBs to keep it under control.
These drugs are considered effective and are generally safe, but if they are linked to another serious condition like glaucoma, doctors and patients may need to take a closer look at the potential risks and benefits.
So far, this study doesn’t prove that CCBs directly cause glaucoma. The researchers say more studies are needed to understand what’s really happening. It’s possible that CCBs affect blood flow in the eyes in a way that harms the optic nerve. Or, there may be other reasons for the link that haven’t been discovered yet.
The researchers also noted that people taking CCBs showed certain eye changes—seen during imaging tests—that are usually found in the early stages of glaucoma. These changes were present even in people who didn’t yet show signs of vision loss, which makes them important warning signs.
If you’re currently taking CCBs for high blood pressure, there’s no need to panic. But it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor—especially if you have a family history of glaucoma or other risk factors like diabetes, older age, or being of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent. Your doctor may suggest more frequent eye exams to watch for early signs of the disease.
The study’s findings were published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Some of the researchers have connections with pharmaceutical companies, though the study does not clearly show how, or if, that influenced the results.
This research is a reminder that medicines can have unexpected effects in different parts of the body. It also highlights the importance of ongoing research to help us better understand how to balance the benefits and risks of the treatments we rely on every day.
If you’re interested in protecting your eye health, other recent studies have looked at how diabetes can affect your eyes, new treatments for dry eye, and even the possibility that some eye surgeries might lower the risk of dementia. Every new piece of research adds to our understanding and helps guide better choices for our health.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how vitamin B may help fight vision loss, and MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease.
For more information about eye disease, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing this eye surgery may reduce dementia risk.
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