Regular Aspirin Intake Triples Chance of Blindness in Older Age

Helen Holmes January 22, 2013

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a medical condition that affects many people in Britain, particularly the older population. Such disease, which results to a loss of vision in the central field of the eye, is more likely to develop among those who regularly take aspirin – a new research found.

For fifteen years, a team of Australian scientists studied the link between aspirin use and AMD. Their study involved 2,400 middle-aged and elderly people with an average age of 49. Out of this number, 257 were considered ‘regular’ aspirin users while the rest were considered ‘occasional’ users.

Researchers found that almost one in ten (equivalent of 9.4%) of the regular aspirin users developed age-related macular degeneration while only one in 27 (equivalent of 3.7%) of occasional users developed the disease.

In their report which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the team concluded that regular aspirin use significantly raises the risk of AMD. Charities on visual health urge doctors to consider the study findings when advising patients on whether or not they should take aspirin as a preventive measure for a variety of illnesses, particularly heart disease. In a similar study conducted by the European Eye Study found, scientists found that regular use of aspirin doubles the risk of advanced wet AMD which could result to total blindness.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risk?

People who are prone to heart attack or those who have suffered from stroke are recommended by doctors to take a daily low-dose of aspirin. This medication works by ‘thinning’ the blood, preventing the formation of blood clots.

Other than preventing heart attack and stroke, aspirin is gaining much more popularity today because of the growing body of research suggesting it can help fight cancer. Nevertheless, it has long been known that aspirin does have side effects such as intestinal bleeding. So does this suggest the need for a more natural approach instead of relying on pharmaceuticals with dangerous consequences?

More research needed to establish ‘causal’ relationship

According to the researchers, their findings establish a robust observational evidence of a link, although it is not yet conclusive. They said they could not conclude that aspirin causes AMD because they only did a ‘cross-sectional’ study which did not follow the study participants over time. They added that their findings could not be used to change clinical guidelines as the evidence obtained is insufficient, except in patients with strong risk factor of developing AMD.

Experts discourage patients from stopping aspirin use without seeking advice from their GPs. Nevertheless, the study offers valuable findings that can be used by doctors when making prescriptions.

Dear Readers,

Do you think that the use of pharmaceuticals which prove to have dangerous side effects are indeed an indicator to the idea that natural therapy may be a better alternative?

Share your idea’s and thoughts below.

Source of this article:

Aspirin ’triples chance of leading cause of blindness’

The Association of Aspirin Use With Age-Related Macular Degeneration