Metformin Users Less Likely to Develop Glaucoma

By Dr. Kevin -

 A large U.S. study of over 18,000 adults with diabetes found that those prescribed metformin, a common


diabetes drug, were 67% less likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) compared to those not using it. The study used up to 20 years of data from the NIH All of Us program, which includes diverse populations, making the results especially meaningful for groups at higher glaucoma risk, such as African-American and Latino communities.

While lowering eye pressure is the main treatment for glaucoma, it doesn’t always prevent disease, so new options are being explored. Metformin may have protective effects on the eye, though the exact biological reason is still unknown. Researchers noted differences in risk factors like age, gender, income, and other diabetes medications, but even after adjusting for these, metformin remained strongly linked to lower glaucoma risk.

The study was observational, so it can’t prove cause and effect, and it lacked detailed data on dosage, duration, or glaucoma severity. Still, the findings suggest metformin could play a role in future glaucoma prevention strategies, and more clinical trials are needed to confirm this benefit.

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