Statin therapy as a scar tissue prevention in the eye
A study conducted at the Helsinki University Hospital demonstrated the connection between statin therapy and risk reduction of vitrectomy surgery to treat a detached retina.
The population-based cohort study investigated renewed surgeries among 5,709 eye patients admitted for a vitrectomy between 2008 and 2014.
The use of statin was correlated with a 28% decrease in the risk of renewed surgery with patients who already underwent a vitrectomy.
Conversely, statin use was not correlated with a decreased risk of renewed surgeries in patients with diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular pucker formation.
It is thought that statin use may be beneficial due to its ability to decrease inflammation in the eye and delay the formation of scar tissue.
It is possible in the future that patients may benefit from a statin medication as an implant or even an injection inside the eye.
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Questions: Does the use of statins for a non-cardiovascular indication surprise you? How often do you counsel patients with vision changes?
