Therapeutic Potential of Statins in Age-related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss, affecting one in three people aged 75 and above. Although exciting new pharmaceuticals to treat ARMD such as endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, are now available, they are effective only in selected group of patients, and can be used only during a narrow time window. Monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections with systemic exposure to anti-VEGF could be replaced by new drugs taken in a non-invasive way. Statins are the most commonly used lipid lowering drugs. The objective of this review is therefore to evaluate the evidence and discuss the rationale behind the recent suggestions that statins may be useful in the prevention and the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. This review recognised that there are potentially multiple biological bases for the protective effect of statins on the risk of ARMD. Thus, it is time to conduct a randomised controlled trial to provide direct evidence of the effectiveness of specific type statin in lowering the incidence and progression of ARMD. New intervention as statins usage to prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration and its progression remain an important strategy to limit the morbidity due to this significant public health problem.

Keywords: Age-related macular, Non-invasive treatment, Pleiotropic effects, Prevention, Statins