Skip to main content

Adverse Association Identified for Calcium Channel Blocker Use, Glaucoma

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Sept. 8, 2023 -- There is an adverse association between calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and glaucoma, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Alan Kastner, M.D., from Moorfields Eye Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust and University College London, and colleagues examined the association between systemic CCB use and glaucoma and related traits in a population-based cross-sectional study involving U.K. Biobank participants with complete data for analysis of glaucoma status, intraocular pressure (IOP), and optical coherence tomography-derived inner retinal layer thicknesses. Data were included for 427,480 adults (median age, 58 years), including 33,175 CCB users (7.8 percent).

The researchers found that use of CCBs, but not other antihypertensive agents, was associated with increased odds of glaucoma after adjustment for key sociodemographic, medical, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors (odds ratio, 1.39). CCB use was also associated with thinner macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and macular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (−0.34 and −0.16 µm, respectively), but not with IOP.

"This cross-sectional study adds further support to an adverse association between CCB use and glaucoma, despite no apparent association with IOP," the authors write. "This warrants further investigation to determine whether the associations are causal and to probe potential underlying biological mechanisms."

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted September 2023

Read this next

AI Outperforms Glaucoma, Retina Specialists for Diagnostic Accuracy

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 28, 2024 -- A large language model (LLM) chatbot outperforms glaucoma and retina specialists for diagnostic accuracy, according to a study published online Feb. 22...

Home Lighting Tied to Activity Levels in Adults With Visual Impairment

FRIDAY, Feb. 9, 2024 -- The home environment, particularly lighting, may influence home activity metrics in older adults with visual impairment, according to a study published...

Eye Diseases Tied to Higher Risk for Falls, Fractures

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 3, 2024 -- People with eye diseases have an increased risk for both falls and fractures when compared with those without eye diseases, according to a study...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.