A new study from the United Kingdom has found a possible link between a common type of blood pressure medicine and a higher chance of having glaucoma, a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness.
The medicine is called a calcium channel blocker, or CCB for short. These drugs are often used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain. Millions of people around the world take them every day to protect their heart and blood vessels.
The study was led by Dr. Alan Kastner and his team at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London. They studied the health records of more than 427,000 people in the UK. Out of these, over 33,000 people were taking CCBs.
The researchers looked at many factors, such as age, lifestyle habits, and other health problems, to understand the link between CCBs and eye health.
Their findings were surprising. People who took calcium channel blockers were more likely to have glaucoma compared to those who didn’t take the medicine. This was not the case for other types of blood pressure drugs, which did not show a similar link.
Glaucoma is a condition where the optic nerve—the part of the eye that sends messages to the brain—gets damaged. This damage is often caused by high pressure inside the eye.
If not treated, it can slowly cause vision loss and even blindness. But in this study, many people with glaucoma did not have high eye pressure. This means that CCBs might affect the eye in a different way, not just through eye pressure.
This discovery is important because glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight.” It doesn’t show clear symptoms in the early stages. Many people don’t even know they have it until they’ve already lost some vision. That’s why regular eye checks are so important, especially for people at risk.
The study does not prove that CCBs cause glaucoma. It only shows that people who take these drugs seem to get glaucoma more often. More research is needed to understand how the medicine might affect the eye and whether there’s a direct cause.
If you are taking calcium channel blockers, don’t stop taking them without talking to your doctor. These drugs are important for controlling blood pressure and keeping your heart healthy. But it may be a good idea to get regular eye exams, especially if glaucoma runs in your family or if you already have other risk factors.
It’s also worth noting that some researchers in the study have worked with drug companies. This doesn’t mean the findings are wrong, but it’s something to keep in mind when reading any research.
The full study is published in JAMA Ophthalmology. It adds new information about how common medicines could affect our eyes and reminds us to pay attention to our vision, especially when taking medicine for a long time.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about why checking blood pressure while lying down is very important and lowering top blood pressure number to less than 120 mm Hg effectively prevents heart disease.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies that turmeric and vitamin D may boost blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes and scientists find link between blood pressure drugs and bowel diseases.
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