Study eye damage from aspirin

Regular aspirin intake can damage the eyes

22/01/2013

Regular intake of aspirin over a long period of time can cause damage to the eye. Scientists from the University of Sydney have in the journal „JAMA Internal Medicine“ published a study examining the risk of age-related macular degeneration from taking aspirin. The eye disease causes a loss of retinal function, which can lead to a decrease in visual acuity and ultimately to blindness.

The scientists around Gerald Liew from the University of Sydney have in their „prospective analysis“ evaluated the data from a population-based Australian cohort study to uncover possible links between aspirin use and the onset of eye disease. The initial study was conducted over a 15-year period and involved four interim examinations, including eye checks. At baseline, participants completed a detailed questionnaire that included aspirin intake, the status of cardiovascular disease, and other risk factors of age-related macular degeneration. The result is disturbing: the regular use of the aspirin active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) over a long period is associated with a significantly increased risk of eye disease.

Increased risk of macular degeneration due to aspirin
Overall, the researchers evaluated data from 2,389 patients as part of their study of the effects of aspirin on the eyes. 257 subjects (10.8 percent of the sample), according to the scientists in the journal „JAMA Internal Medicine "regularly used aspirin (at least once a week) for an extended period of time, just under one in four (63 subjects) developed neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet macular degeneration), after factors such as age, gender, smoking, cardiovascular disease, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index, the risk of wet age-related macular degeneration in the regular aspirin users was 9.3 percent over the 15-year follow-up period, but subjects who did not take aspirin fell ill only 3.7 percent, the Australian researchers report „regular aspirin use is associated with a significantly increased risk of age-related macular degeneration, regardless of other risk factors such as cardiovascular disease or smoking, the conclusion of Liew and colleagues.

Far-reaching importance for everyday practice
The results of the Australian team of researchers have a far-reaching effect in everyday practice, as many patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system (eg arteriosclerosis or coronary heart disease) receive the aspirin drug. Because this has a blood-thinning effect, so can prevent vascular occlusions (thrombi) and ultimately reduce the risk of heart attack. In several studies, however, significant risks of regular aspirin drug have been identified, so that the prescription in cardiac patients today rated much more critical than a few years ago. However, Australian researchers are positive about the benefit-risk balance in some patients. However, this does not apply to all heart patients. In the opinion of Liew and colleagues, a differentiation should be made in the future and, if the aspirin has only a low or not clearly proven preventive effect, and a high individual risk of wet macular degeneration, preventive aspirin intake may be dispensed with. (Fp)

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Picture: Rainer Sturm