Wet AMD and Antihypertensives: What Risk Exists?

Untreated high blood pressure—also known as hypertension—can lead to a variety of major medical problems. These cover visual issues as well as heart attack, stroke, renal failure, and heart failure. One risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye condition causing vision loss, is high blood pressure.

Emphasizing good food and consistent exercise, doctors sometimes first advise patients to change lifestyle variables in order to lower blood pressure. For patients whose blood pressure is still stubbornly high, also prescribed are anti-hypertensive medications. Still, several studies point to a link between specific types of blood pressure medications and AMD.

Drawing clear answers from the research demonstrating a link between various antihypertensives and wet AMD, the more severe form of AMD that can cause rapid visual loss, can be challenging. This is so because the research usually covers a wide spectrum of people with different medical problems.

Patients should weigh the less supported data on anti-hypertensives against the risk of the major health problems including uncontrolled hypertension, for which there is great proof.

Like smoking and diabetes, hypertension can also affect the blood arteries supplying oxygen to the retina and waste product sweeping away harm. She stated, even if studies point to some antihypertensives causing AMD, it’s hard to determine which element causes retinal damage most importantly.