A Common Diabetes Medication May Help Preserve Vision as People Age
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A common diabetes medication can slow age-related vision loss, according to new research.
People with diabetes over the age of 55 and taking metformin, a prescription drug most commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, were 37% less likely to develop intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) within five years compared to those not taking it.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool used photographs of the eyes of 2,000 people who underwent routine screening for diabetic eye diseases over the course of five years.
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They then assessed whether AMD was present in the photographs and how severe each case was, before comparing the differences between people taking metformin and those not taking it, according to a news release.
Age-related macular degeneration, often called AMD, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults. (PeopleImages/Getty Images)
They also adjusted for factors that could potentially bias the results, such as age, sex, and how long they had had diabetes.
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“The majority of people who suffer from AMD do not receive treatment, so this is a major step forward in our search for new treatments,” said Nick Bear, an ophthalmologist at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, who led the research.
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“What we need to do now is test metformin as a treatment for AMD in a clinical trial. Metformin has the potential to save the sight of many people,” he added.
“Metformin has the potential to save sight for many people,” the researchers said. (iStock)
While the results are promising, the researchers noted that the study was observational, meaning it shows a link between the drug and eye health, but does not prove that metformin was the direct cause of the improvement.
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The study also focused solely on people with diabetes. It is not clear whether the drug would have the same effect in people without the condition.
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Additionally, the researchers did not have data on the specific doses of metformin that patients took or how strictly they followed their prescriptions.
The researchers noted that the study was observational, meaning it shows a link between the drug and eye health, but does not prove that metformin was the direct cause of the improvement. (iStock)
According to the Mayo Clinic, metformin is a low-cost, off-patent medication that is already widely used to control blood sugar.
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Scientists believe its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties may help protect the retina.
Mayo Clinic says metformin is generally safe, but can cause digestive side effects and vitamin B12 deficiency in some patients.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.