A recent study presented at the
American Academy of Ophthalmology 2013 meeting showed that women over age
40 taking oral contraceptives for 3 years or more were twice as likely to
develop a glaucoma diagnosis.
Glaucoma results in slow optic nerve
damage at the back of the eye due to various factors which can but may not
include abnormally high eye pressure. If left undiagnosed or untreated,
irreversible vision loss can gradually occur. Early stages are typically
present with no symptoms, which is why early detection and intervention
are essential in minimizing or preventing vision loss.
It is important to note that the
exact correlation between oral contraceptives and glaucoma has not been determined.
Estrogen is thought to be protective against glaucoma, and post-menopausal
women are more at risk compared to men of similar age. Oral
contraceptives control the amount of estrogen in the body, and this alteration
in hormonal levels may be a contributing factor in glaucoma development.
This has not been proven as of yet, however this study implies a potential
glaucoma risk factor in addition to others (family history, race, age, high eye
pressures, even history of migraine).
Until there is conclusive data
linking oral contraceptive use and glaucoma, it is prudent to make a
note of any history of long term oral contraceptive use, and
screen for glaucoma with annual eye examinations.
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