A Taiwanese research project has shown that diabetes sufferers who take statins to reduce blood pressure might also inadvertently be reducing their risk of vision loss through retinal damage which comes as a result of the disease.

Working with a database of over 37,000 Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes, 50% of whom were taking statins and 50% who were not, the team from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan discovered that, after an average follow-up of seven years, retinopathy had developed in 10.6% of those who were taking statins, and 12% of those who weren’t. In addition to a lower rate of diabetic retinopathy, the researchers report that the use of statins was also associated with a lower need for invasive treatments for those who develop advanced forms of the eye disease.

Experts not involved in the project have said that, while this is an interesting study done on a large number of patients, it is important to note that the results show an association with a lower risk of retinal damage rather than proving that statins are the cause. As this research is retrospective, the research team suggests a randomized control trial to be sure of the conclusions.

Sources:

1.Reuters:
Statins may help prevent diabetes-related eye problems.

2.MedicalResearch.com:
Diabetes: Study Find Statins Protect Against Vision Loss.