Research shows that long-term birth control use could be a risk factor for glaucoma, a blindness-causing ocular disorder that affects nearly 60 million people worldwide. The study, which was conducted by University of California, San Francisco, Duke University School of Medicine and Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China, reveals that females who had used any kind of oral contraceptives for longer than three years are twice as likely to suffer glaucoma.
The research is the first to establish a connection between long-term birth control use and increased risk of glaucoma. Researchers surveyed 3,406 female participants aged 40 years and older from across the United States using a vision and reproductive health questionnaire and eye exams.
The researchers advise gynecologists and ophthalmologists to be conscious that oral contraceptives might be a contributing factor in glaucomatous diseases, and that they should inform their patients to have their eyes screened for the blindness-causing disease if have other risk factors. Considered one of the leading causes of blindness, glaucoma is a condition that brings damage to a person’s optic nerve and gets worse over time. It is often associated with a buildup of pressure inside the eye and usually occurs in adults over age 40, but it can also manifest in young adults, children, and even infants.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Hitesh K. Patel of Edison, New Jersey is the founder of Patel Eye Associates, an eye care center that provides treatment and diagnosis of various vision problems such as cataracts, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. Know more about his expertise by visiting this website.
