Everyday diabetes medicine could treat common cause of blindness

Everyday diabetes medicine could treat common cause of blindness

Doctors have found that metformin, an everyday medicine for diabetes, is associated with less progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in western countries. In a recent study, people with diabetes over the age of 55 years taking metformin were 37% less likely to develop the intermediate stage of AMD over a five-year period compared to those not taking metformin.

Diabetes Medication Protects Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A medication commonly prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, metformin, can help protect against the development of a common cause of blindness known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a chronic, progressive disease of the macula, the central part of the retina in the eye responsible for sharp, detailed, central vision. It affects more than 18 million people in the U.S. and estimates suggest that around one in 10 people over the age…

UK Researchers Find Common Diabetes Drug Linked to Reduced Progression of AMD

Doctors have found that metformin, one of the most widely prescribed treatments for diabetes, is associated with a significantly lower risk of progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). New research from the University of Liverpool shows that people with diabetes aged over 55 who were taking metformin were 37% less likely to develop intermediate AMD over a 5-year period compared with those not taking the drug. The findings offer fres…