A new study found that women who use birth control pills for extended periods of time may be at higher risk of developing glaucoma which can lead to serious eye problems.
The brand of birth control pills showed no different result in the women tested for the study. The study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, shows that long-term use of oral contraceptives more than doubles the risk of glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness.
The risk of developing glaucoma is doubled when taking birth control pills. Glaucoma is caused by a build-up of fluid pressure in the eye, resulting in irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Previous studies have hinted to a link between the hormone oestrogen, a key component of the Pill, and the development of glaucoma.
The new study looked at 3,406 women aged 40 and over who were surveryed about their reproductive history and underwent eye examinations.
Professor Shan Lin led the study at the University of California at San Francisco and Duke University and Nanchang University. Professor Lin said that further research is necessary to prove the cause and effect of birth control pills and their relation to glaucoma risk.
The study found that patients had a greater chance of being diagnosed with the disease if they were African-American, had a family history and existing visual problems.
Dr. Lin advised for any woman who has taken birth control pills for over three years to have a glaucoma screening and to have their ophthalmologist give them routine eye exams, especially if other risk factors are present.
"We can't really say [birth control pills] cause glaucoma," said study researcher and author Elaine Wang, of Duke University. "But if you have been taking it for more than three years, and especially if you have other risk factors such as family history and older age, then you might want to talk to your doctor and go see an ophthalmologist to screen for glaucoma."
Wang added that the study may even be helpful news for the prevention of glaucoma. "The goal of our study was to try to identify specific risk factors so we could potentially intervene and change these risk factors, as well as screen earlier for glaucoma," she said.
