Popular diabetes drug linked to reduced glaucoma risk
A recent study found that metformin (Glumetza, Salix), a popular diabetes drug, is associated with a dose-dependent risk reduction for open-angle glaucoma.
Orlando, FL-A recent study found that metformin (Glumetza, Salix), a popular diabetes drug, is associated with a dose-dependent risk reduction for open-angle glaucoma.
Julia Richards, MD, of the University of Michigan Kellog Eye Center and her research team analyzed longitudinal data from the Clinformatics Data Mart Database from 2001 to 2009. They identified 150,016 patients who were 40 years and older who had diabetes and no pre-existing open-angle glaucoma. Of those patients, 5,893 developed open-angle glaucoma. Those who had a documented cumulative metformin use of more than 1110 g over two years had a 25 percent lower risk for open-angle glaucoma than those who had no metformin use. For every 1 g increase in metformin, there was a 0.01 percent reduced risk for open-angle glaucoma.
Dr. Richards presented the results of the study during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2014 meeting (abstract 1668). She said if the results could be confirmed in a clinical trial, it could lead to novel treatments for glaucoma.
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