Popular birth control methods have been linked to a higher risk of glaucoma, according to a new study. As such, those who use hormonal contraceptives for birth control face a higher chance of damage to the optic nerve than those who do not use them infrequently or not at all.
Researchers from The University of British Columbia performed a retrospective cohort study in which electronic medical records were examined to determine if there was a link between the use of hormonal contraceptives and the risk of glaucoma.
Glaucoma is an eye condition in which the optic nerve is damaged, according to the Mayo Clinic. When the optic nerve is damaged, the eyesight is also impacted.
The problem with glaucoma is that the condition is gradual. So gradual in fact, according to the publication that by the time a vision change is realized, serious eye damage has already occurred.
While glaucoma is most frequently diagnosed in those over 60, it is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. The condition can affect anyone at any age.
The study, which was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, reviewed electronic records for women aged 15 to 45 from 2008 to 2018, according to EurekAlert! Of those women, nearly 2,400 were diagnosed with glaucoma, while close to 9,500 were used as controls in the study.
What researchers found was that those women who regularly used oral contraceptives were at a higher risk of developing glaucoma than those who did not use them or used hormonal contraceptives infrequently, according to the study.
The increased risk, according to Medical Xpress, was twofold for those who used the contraceptives for birth control.
Further still, according to the publication, those who used hormonal birth control four times per year or more were at the highest risk for developing glaucoma. The risk decreased if only one or two prescriptions were taken in one year, and of course, decreased completely from there.
The study also found that the risk was only higher while the hormonal contraceptives were being actively taken. For those who took them in the past, there was not a higher risk of developing the disease than those who had never taken them.
Researchers pointed out that while it sounds risky to the eyesight to take hormonal contraceptives, the risk of doing so is actually very low.
According to EurekAlert! researchers state that women should feel comfortable continuing their use of contraceptives.
However, if changes in eyesight do occur, it is recommended to contact an ophthalmologist to determine the source of the vision change. This is important because if the cause is indeed glaucoma, the earlier the condition is realized, the better chances there are at saving eyesight before too much damage has been done.
Source: EurekAlert!, Medical Xpress, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Mayo Clinic, Glaucoma Research Foundation