Oral Contraceptive Use Linked to Glaucoma Risk

Women who took oral contraceptives for three or more years are twice as likely to suffer from glaucoma, according to a new study.

Researchers at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF; USA), Duke University (Durham, NC, USA) and Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University (China) utilized 2005-2008 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), administered by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA). In all, the study included 3,406 female participants aged 40 years or older from across the United States who completed a vision and reproductive health questionnaire and underwent eye exams.

The results showed that females who had used oral contraceptives—no matter what kind—for longer than three years were 2.05 times more likely to report that they have been diagnosed with glaucoma. The researchers added that although there is no reference to the causative effect of oral contraceptives on the development of glaucoma, long-term use of oral contraceptives appears to be potential risk factor for glaucoma, and may be considered as part of the risk profile, along with other risk factors such as ethnicity, family history of glaucoma, history of increased eye pressure, or existing visual field defects. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held during November 2013 in New Orleans (LA, USA).

“Previous studies in the field have shown that estrogen may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma,” said lead author and study presenter Shan Lin, MD, a professor of clinical ophthalmology at UCSF. “At this point, women who have taken oral contraceptives for three or more years should be screened for glaucoma and followed closely by an ophthalmologist, especially if they have any other existing risk factors.”

Cells in the retina are known to have estrogen receptors, which indicate the hormone could have a protective effect. As a result, it is reasonable to assume that contraceptives that suppress cyclical spikes in women's estrogen levels could affect the eyes.

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University of California, San Francisco
Duke University
Nanchang University