Effect of Statin Drugs and Aspirin on Glaucoma Progression

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine whether use of statin drugs or aspirin affects the rate of open angle glaucoma (OAG) progression. Methods: Patients with OAG with at least three visual field tests were recorded at the San Francisco Veterans' Administration Medical Center (SFVAMC) from 1996 to 2004. We performed a retrospective chart review of 214 eyes with OAG at the SFVAMC. Subjects included patients with OAG who used statin drugs or aspirin for greater than 23 months. Controls were patients with OAG who never used statins or aspirin. We analyzed the change in visual field mean deviation per year in patients who took statin drugs or aspirin and those who did not. Results: There was no difference in the average change in mean deviation per year in the group using either statins or aspirin (0.1370 decibels per year) and the control group (–0.0090 decibels per year), (p > 0.05). The change in mean deviation per year in patients who used aspirin alone (–0.0773 decibels per year) was not significantly different from the controls (p > 0.05). However, the change in mean deviation per year in patients who used statins alone (–0.3072 decibels per year) was significantly different from the controls [95% CI 0.4978 –0.0987; p <0.05]. Conclusions: Statin drugs, but not aspirin, are associated with slowed glaucoma progression. Prospective studies are necessary to further investigate the effect of statins on open–angle glaucoma.

Keywords: visual fields • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications