A widely used medicine for high blood pressure may be linked to a greater risk of glaucoma, according to a new study from researchers in the United Kingdom.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of permanent blindness around the world because it slowly damages the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. The research was published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Many people take calcium channel blockers, often called CCBs, every day to treat high blood pressure or chest pain.
These medicines help relax blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. They are considered an important treatment for many people with heart and blood vessel disease.
In the new study, researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London, led by Dr. Alan Kastner, examined the health records of more than 427,000 people in the United Kingdom.
More than 33,000 participants were taking calcium channel blockers. The researchers also considered factors such as age, smoking, exercise, and other medical conditions to reduce the influence of other possible causes.
The results showed that people taking calcium channel blockers were more likely to have glaucoma than people who were not taking these medicines. Interestingly, the same link was not seen with other common blood pressure medicines. This suggests there may be something specific about calcium channel blockers that deserves further investigation.
Glaucoma develops when the optic nerve becomes damaged. In many cases, this damage is linked to high pressure inside the eye. However, not everyone with glaucoma has raised eye pressure, and the new study found that many affected participants had normal eye pressure.
This suggests that calcium channel blockers could influence the disease through a different process that scientists do not yet fully understand.
Glaucoma is often called the ‘silent thief of sight’ because it usually develops slowly without obvious early symptoms. Many people do not realise they have the disease until they have already lost part of their vision. Because lost vision cannot usually be restored, regular eye examinations are important, especially for older adults and people with a family history of glaucoma.
The researchers emphasise that their study does not prove calcium channel blockers directly cause glaucoma. It only found an association between taking these medicines and having a higher chance of the disease. More research is needed to discover whether the medicines themselves are responsible or whether another factor explains the findings.
People who take calcium channel blockers should not stop their medication without first speaking to their doctor. Keeping blood pressure under control remains very important for preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other serious health problems.
However, people taking these medicines may wish to discuss regular eye examinations with their healthcare provider, particularly if they have other risk factors for glaucoma.
The study also noted that some of the researchers have worked with pharmaceutical companies, something that is commonly reported in medical research to maintain transparency.
Overall, the findings highlight the importance of continuing to monitor the long-term safety of commonly prescribed medicines while helping patients protect both their heart health and their eyesight.
The study was published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about what to eat and to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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