High-intensity Statin Use Associated with Lower Risk of Progression to Wet AMD

High-intensity use of statins, which are widely used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, was associated with lower risk of conversion to wet AMD, preservation of visual function and reduced drusen volume increase. Photo: Getty Images. Click image to enlarge. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults in developed countries. In its intermediate stage, drusen—deposits rich in fat and protein—build up under the retina. These deposits share similarities with the lipid-rich plaques that form in the blood vessels of patients with heart disease. Statins have therefore been hypothesized to slow drusen buildup and protect the retina. Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston evaluated associations between statin intensity and disease progression, as well as structural and functional outcomes, in intermediate AMD. Their findings, presented earlier this week at ARVO 2026 in Denver, suggest that more intensive statin therapy may help prevent progression to advanced forms of AMD while also improving preservation of visual function.This retrospective longitudinal study assessed 192 eyes from 124 patients with intermediate AMD who initiated statin therapy within three months of baseline. Patients were classified as non-users, low/medium-intensity or high-intensity statin users per American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines. Primary outcomes were progression to advanced AMD, defined as geographic atrophy or neovascular AMD and visual acuity (VA) loss ≥three ETDRS lines. Secondary outcomes included longitudinal changes in outer nuclear layer thickness, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) volume (a surrogate for drusen volume) and quantitative contrast sensitivity function metrics in eyes that remained clinically stable during follow-up.Over a median follow-up of 30.1 months, 71 eyes (37%) progressed to advanced AMD. Statin users exhibited a significantly reduced adjusted risk of AMD progression (hazard ratio; HR=0.54) compared to non-users. High-intensity statin use was specifically associated with a lower adjusted risk of conversion to wet AMD (HR=0.30) and significant VA loss (HR=0.41) compared to non-users; however, its use was not associated with risk of progression to geographic atrophy. In 121 clinically stable eyes (63%), high-intensity statin use was associated with significantly slower declines in quantitative contrast sensitivity function metrics and reduced RPE volume increase (β=-0.02mm3/year), with no significant difference in outer nuclear layer thinning rate.“Our findings could help doctors use a medication many patients already take for heart health as part of a broader strategy to protect their sight,” the study authors wrote in their abstract.Original abstracts ©2026 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Click here for the source. Zhang JJ, Romano F, Nodecker K, et al. Impact of statin intensity on disease progression, structural and functional outcomes in intermediate age-related macular degeneration. ARVO 2026 annual meeting. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.