Statin Use Not Independently Linked to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Study

A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology showed that after controlling for confounding variables, statin usage was not shown to be independently linked to self-reported age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

One of the main causes of permanent central vision loss in older persons is AMD. The buildup of drusen under the retina is a hallmark of the illness. Researchers have long speculated that lipid-lowering treatments may reduce the incidence of AMD since these deposits have significant pathophysiological parallels to the lipid-rich plaques observed in atherosclerosis. As a result, statins have attracted a lot of attention as a possible treatment to reduce drusen accumulation and preserve retinal function.

In the past, there has been a lot of conflicting research about the relationship between statin medication and AMD. There was no consistent impact of general statin usage on the overall incidence or development of AMD, according to a number of extensive meta-analyses. Recent longitudinal studies, however, draw attention to a crucial detail: treatment intensity.

According to new research, long-term, high-intensity statin regimes may provide a protective signal, reducing the chance of developing advanced neovascular (wet) AMD and maintaining visual acuity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between statin usage, self-reported AMD, and sociodemographic characteristics in a nationally representative sample of adult Americans.

Only persons 50 years of age and older were included in the analyses. There were 16,924 individuals in the descriptive sample, and the multivariable analysis contained 7,566 participants with full covariate data. Self-reported AMD was the main result. Using complicated survey weighting, univariable and multivariable logistic regression models evaluated relationships between AMD, statin usage, and sociodemographic and health-related factors.

16,924 persons 50 years of age and older made up the descriptive sample; 73.52% were non-Hispanic White and 55.41% were female. Statin usage did not significantly correlate with self-reported AMD in adjusted analysis (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.66-1.18; p =.401).

Hispanic ethnicity was linked to decreased chances of self-reported AMD, while older age, female sex, unemployment, and fair self-reported health were linked to greater probabilities. Upon controlling for other variables, statin usage had no independent association with self-reported AMD. Self-reported AMD was linked to older age, female gender, unemployment, fair self-reported health, and decreased chances among Hispanic individuals.

Source:

Butt, A. B., Jeyakumaran, T., Zajner, C., Popovic, M. M., Kertes, P. J., Muni, R. H., & Kohly, R. P. (2026). Associations of age-related macular degeneration and statin use: a cross-sectional analysis. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. Journal Canadien D'ophtalmologie. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjo.2026.05.012